Keith - this is my third Landrover - the fact that you are on your 17th show the difference between us - you have the sense to trade them in when they show signs of tiredness - the fact that I am still on my forth after having never been without one for 41 years is because I throw good money after bad, use binder twine, second hand parts, chewing gum, pop rivets, bars bugs, rubber bands, assorted bolts, nuts and screws and finally crow bars and hammers to beat panels and chassis back into shape then finally push them over banks and pillage them for spare parts...you can even recycle chewing gum!
This Landrover had a chequered history - I had it three months and the head distorted so I got it planed then shortly after hydrauliced it under water - it was a diesel - I replaced the engine with a petrol one
These photos were taken between 1977 and 1981 because it has a new roof!
About 1975 or 1976 three cobbers and I decided to go have a few drinks at the pub then go spotlighting.
One of my cobbers had just got out of hospital in Dunedin after a long stay - he drove his car accidently of course into a tree in the Octagon in Dunedin and went out through the windscreen and to caste insult after injury not only did his head take out his windscreen but it also came to a sudden stop against a tree - his head not the windscreen. He was so cut up and full of stitches that he looked like Herman Munster.
In any case his mother put a curse on us by saying "Now you take care of Steve, you know hes just got out of hospital"
It wasnt my fault we stayed too long at the pub - it wasnt my fault I was leaning on the truck door as we drove along a gravel road - it wasnt my fault the door opened - it wasnt my fault I fell out - it wasnt my fault I grabbed the steering wheel to keep me from going right out - it wasnt my fault the steering wheel made the truck slew sideways on - it wasnt my fault the truck rolled
Steve went out through the roof and took it with him - a distant relative of mine broke his leg - I crushed my egg shell and have had migraines ever since - I also broke two ribs - I cant remember what happened to the fourth guy - maybe hes still in the ditch!
Two of us including me with broken ribs rolled the truck back onto its wheels and drove to Waimate hospital - that was 11.00 pm - the nurses told us to go away!
Thats how I know that these photos were taken after 1975 or 1976
The two blokes with me, one in the Landrover and the other standing beside it were both into gold mining in the 1960s. I find it strange that many of those who hunted with me, came gold mining and fishing were ex WWII servicemen but now are either too old or gone. The chap standing beside the door is one of the early fellows who skin dived for gold, John Dean - hes dead at the moment. His usual partner was a chap Stan Rainsford - hes dead at the moment as well. Stan was a gun smith - I remember that once in the 1960s he was welding beside a tray of gun powder in his shop - need I say more? He was another of the WWII servicemen whos gone west now. The chap in the truck is my father - he is still actively duck hunting but not into diving anymore for gold - he is an ex WWII serviceman himself and one of the few I know who is still out there doing it...in fact he not long ago bought himself a boat and a new 12g shotgun.
Lammerlaw attached the following image(s):
