Eyeing The Prey

The Cutaway Diagram Files - Range Rover By Terry Davey

Land Rover ReDiscovery - Disco Rover

A six-wheeled Ranger Rover pick-up, which in and of itself would make for a worthy feature. But, look closely; Range Rover derived roof, Rangey back panels, C-pillars and rear window, but a Discovery nose, doors and looks like that distinctive Conran-designed Discovery dashboard. So how on earth do you 'combine' a classic Ranger Rover and a Land Rover Discovery? Well, a lot easier than you think; a quick glance under the bonnet soon reveals the RR lurking underneath a Disco. It uses the Range Rover's chassis and running gear, the screen and the doors, though reskinned, are the same as well. Now that you have this revelation laid upon you, I now have to let you down by saying that I know no more about the freaky-deaky sexy six above. I know, boo. Booo.

But before y'all run me out of town, let me show you another mutant Disco Rover.

This conversion has appeared in Land Rover Owner magazine twice, as a Strange Rover in December 1993 (no relation to this Strange Rover) and ReDiscovery in May 1998. I'm still looking for the issues in question to post the full scans, but you can pretty much tell where the RR stops and the Disco starts. Originally a Range Rover to start with, the rear and roof from a Discovery has been bolted on. The conversion seems so simple on paper, its a little surprising to me that more people haven't done it.

Do you remember thinking that you wish the Matra Rancho had come with 4WD? Well, the more I look at the ReDiscovery, the more it reminds me of one.

And for comparison, a standard Discovery Those RR genes really are just skin-deep.

- Amazosan

Hidden Treasure - A Scrapyard In London, 2013

The scrapyard is dead, long live the scrapyard. The days of climbing over teetering piles of decaying cars are gone; victim of European safety laws, but the smarter ones survive. This particular yard, a regular haunt of mine for many years, has a regular input of untaxed cars as the business also deals with the DVLA (boo hiss) and now has the cars stacked on purpose-built holders. You want a part from the car at the top? No problem; along comes the fork lift driver and brings the car down for your perusal. The surprising thing is that in amongst the familiar late-model chod are some eyebrow-raising finds; like a Triumph Stag, a 205GTI and a 50's 100E Anglia.

The scrapyard is dead, long live the scrapyard. Huzzah!

More below and here.

- Amazosan

Austin 1300, looking good enough to save:

Ford Anglia 100E:

Toyota MR2:

Range Rover Vogue:

Australian-market Mitsubishi Pajero Exceed:

Triumph Stag is a long-term resident; has been there at least 8 years:

Peugeot 205 GTI 1.6; still lots of parts left to donate to the cause:

W114-shape Mercedes coupés:

What were once £80k brand new; W140 Merc S-Class and CL, the latter still has it's 408bhp V12:

Jags, Jags, Jags; The rear axle in the XJ6 is much sought-after by hot rod builders:

This had quite literally arrived minutes before; Rover P6:

Polo, no real holes in it:

And last, but by no means least, a barely recognisable Talbot Solara en route to being shredded: