What's the appeal of a Series in the USA ?

[NoBeardNoTopKnot]

To Brits reading this, rest assured driving in the US is vastly different to anything UK.

I'm going to blaspheme or dependent on your standpoint sound more a akin to Professor of the bl**ding obvious, yet for continuous use a Series LR on UK roads is pretty appalling. And then there's US roads.  Hence the root of my question: when there's all manner of US-market iron to do the job, and you've seen all your choices, why in all that's holy would you utter the words "Yup, that's the one for me", and come back with a Series?

[Old80]

For exactly the same reason we love them!

[Wittsend]

 

[Theshed]

Yes, it is a different way of driving over there in many ways. But possibly no more different than driving a Series on UK's busy roads and motorways ?

[Boston109]

Well, speaking as a British expat living in New England, I think the appeal is two fold.

Firstly, my RHD 2a reminds me of being in England and my drives throughout the pastoral lands of Essex county on the north shore make me feel as if I'm in Derbyshire.  Brings a warmth to my heart, no matter the weather.

Secondly, many Americans see the Land Rover as the first true off road vehicle in my view which is ironic given the landy was born from the wartime Jeep concept. This pedigree gives the vintage Land Rover a standout quality here and there is a fascination and admiration for the vehicles.  Jeeps are EVERYWHERE, whereas the vintage landy is both rare and beautiful. 

Prices for land rovers in the USA can be crazy high and there are some people here who benefit wildly from this.  But for me, my four year rebuild makes mine priceless to me.  It's my daily driver for half the year and while a stark contrast to the Jaguar iPace I drive for the other half of the year, it's still my favorite vehicle of all time!

As it happens, I'm flying back to Blighty this weekend for a week of hiking in Derbyshire and Yorkshire.  I'm sure I'll see one or two of you driving past me in your own special projects.

[simonbav]

"whereas the vintage landy is both rare and beautiful."

Beautifully put Boston. I'm in York if your travels bring you this way.

[island dormy]

  Folks over here just love them, no matter where you stop be it for gas or groceries someone will come over (every time) and want to talk with you about it.
  Driving around is just fine but you do have to realize you are driving a slow vehicle I tend to stay on the backroads and take my time and try to enjoy the drive. We have lots of backroads over here its a huge country.
  Driving the rover in a big city is a royal pain, just to many frustrated folks in a hurry to get anywhere. Lets face it a 78HP 109 can barely beat a unloaded cement truck across an intersection so some folks do get a bit cross with the rovers slow acceleration and cant wait to get past you.

 Best to stick to the slow lane and relax.

  Victor

[Genocache]

   For the same reason we love beard and topknots

Interesting first 6 replies to a US question at least 5, 6 depending on how you view Boston 109, are all non US.

To Island Dormy, I heard Canada is the second largest Country.

So, for most of us US folks our first introduction to Rovers was a TV show, Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom which premiered in 1963 and ran until 1988. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_Kingdom
    In it Marlin Perkins and his sidekick Jim Fowler prowled Africa chasing and capturing animals in Rovers.

Then there is the versatility of the many body styles produced by the factory and the ability to make changes to the one I own and make it "mine". The ability to work on it myself and the "Go Anywhere" mindset(and advertising). I bought my first Rover in 1973, I was just out of the USN, my first car, I have had one ever since. Now my 109 is my only car. As a driver I've never been in a hurry and don't see the appeal of going 80mph.   :soft top

[island dormy]

  Hi Genochache

  Its  a big place to be sure, to bad its covered in snow for 8-9 months of the year.

  I remember watching those shows on Saturday afternoons when I was a young kid.

  Nowadays at a car show there will almost always be a young kid looking at the Dormobile in awe and telling his mom, its a Africa truck.
 Those shows have been off the air for 35 years, I dont know where they are picking that up.
 They are also fascinated by the tire on the bonnet.

  My dad got the 62 in 1964 from the Doctor who meet it in Africa for a safari then had it shipped back to Calgary where my dad bought it.

  Victor
 

[NoBeardNoTopKnot]

Interesting first 6 replies to a US question at least 5, 6 depending on how you view Boston 109, are all non US.

Yes, forgive us - it's a Brit thing. 'Tis a given... any Brit is over-qualified to tell the French (and the world) why the Aussies like the Colliseum; the Japs like the Eiffel Tower; the Germans like The Parthenon.

Obviously not in THEIR language... don't be silly now. In English, only louder.

[w3526602]

HI,

OT, but I suggest you watch the film HATARI.... base in Africa, chasing Rhinos in a jeep, sitting on the front bumper, throwing a lasso.

This film probably introduced BABY ELEPHANT TANGO ... two baby elephants running through the city, in time to the music.

602

[NoBeardNoTopKnot]

Ah, in my mind,  Stateside had been watching too much 'Born Free'; 'Clarence the Boss-eyed Lion'; 'Daktari' and all that? Most had LRs on show? ( I think...) Don't reckon we ever saw 'Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom ' on UK TVs. Least, not in my ITV region?

Until you ride a Lion down to the pub you've not lived.

[Ironchicken64]

I owned a 1971 series 2a when I lived in Upstate NY some years ago. It was a total rebuild job that I started in the 1990's and eventually I drove it as a second car.
I often wonder what happened to it. The chap I sold it to decided to sell it on, but I imagine that it is still on the roads somewhere around Albany and Saratoga.
It was in good shape when I sold it, with a galvanised chassis and nut and bolt rebuild.