Tax exempt 4x4's ?

[composimmonite]

A mate keeps on pestering me to sell him my Mahinda MM540. The only way I'd consider doing that is if I could find something else that interested me more. Whilst a Range Rover P38 appeals I've also been thinking about what tax exempt 4x4's are available and can't come up with a very big list !
Obviously there are Land Rovers and early Range Rovers, traditional Jeep, Austin Champ, Austin Gypsy, Unimog, Gaz, Halflinger, Auto Union / DKW Munga, Jensen FF, various US models and that is about the limit of what I can think of. Most of the list are obscure or too expensive for me to consider - Imagine a Jensen FF green laning or splashing around in mud on a fun day !

So can anyone think of a relatively common (ie easy to find and affordable to play with rather then being so expensive you'd worry about it getting damaged) 4x4 I should consider ? I've had tax exempt Range Rover as well as 3 x SIIA Land Rovers as well as a CJ5 Jeep and don't want to go there again

Munga -


Gaz 69A -


A Haflinger seems to be the only option (they are tiny - Honda Acty size)


These two are basically the same but it's just the top one has a fibreglass cab.

Paul h

[VIP]

The original Toyota FJ Land Cruiser?

[composimmonite]

I've always liked the original Toyota FJ. In fact whilst not tax exempt the Suzuki LJ80 is neat too.


Paul h

[composimmonite]

I suppose I shouldn't dismiss the Austin Champ and Gypsy !
Champ -

Gypsy-


Paul H

[ukjeeper]

Jeep Cherokee's first year of manufacture was 1974...




The Wagoneer came out in the Sixties:



(totally ignoring the " relatively common (ie easy to find" requirement)

[Frankenhealey]

You don't want any of those small things; you need one of these



Cheap to buy, huge wading depth, will go anywhere, bit expensive on fuel but a gas conversion solves that, few of them have done over 5k miles

[composimmonite]

My "dream" Jeep would be a FC -

Wonder if a FC cab would fit on my Mahindra chassis

Paul H

[skoze]

You want an old soft-top Land Rover.

[composimmonite]

Mar 4, 2014 10:13:22 GMT Frankenhealey said:

You don't want any of those small things; you need one of these



Cheap to buy, huge wading depth, will go anywhere, bit expensive on fuel but a gas conversion solves that, few of them have done over 5k miles

During a fireman's action period I saw, and heard, a Green Goddess, at full pelt. Must have been doing 30 MPH at full revs - but sounded sweet !
I'm resisting WWII 4x4's despite being interested. I was talking to an owner of a Canadian Military Pattern (CMP) truck and he told me they were so desperate for vehicles that there wasn't time to allow timber used in cab to properly season. He said it wasn't uncommon to find some that had were kept in storage after the war awaiting sale to have started to sprout shoots !

CMP -


Paul h

[composimmonite]

Mar 4, 2014 10:21:39 GMT skoze said:

You want an old soft-top Land Rover.

I've had 3 x SIIA & 2 x SIII (as well as Defender, Disco and 3 x Range Rover).
Without spending ages moaning lets say I don't want to go there again - and I'm a Land Rover enthusiast !

Paul h

[ukjeeper]

Mar 4, 2014 10:14:50 GMT composimmonite said:

My "dream" Jeep would be a FC -

Wonder if a FC cab would fit on my Mahindra chassis

Paul H

Absolutely! An acquired taste for some, but i so would! Glad to see you like the older oddball Jeeps. I was going to suggest a jeepster commando, but they really are off the wall (and rare).




Then of course there's the new FC concept: 

[ukjeeper]

Mar 4, 2014 10:21:39 GMT skoze said:

You want an old soft-top Land Rover.

I wouldn't be calling her 'old' soft top! (but she definitely looks soft....   )

[composimmonite]

Mar 4, 2014 10:41:25 GMT ukjeeper said:

Mar 4, 2014 10:14:50 GMT composimmonite said:

My "dream" Jeep would be a FC -

Wonder if a FC cab would fit on my Mahindra chassis

Paul H

Absolutely! An acquired taste for some, but i so would! Glad to see you like the older oddball Jeeps. I was going to suggest a jeepster commando, but they really are off the wall (and rare).

Actually !
I collected a Jeep Commando from Spain and delivered to France. They were made under licence by Ebro and fitted with Perkins (4108 ?) engines. Found quite few Ebro CJ3B's as well.

Unfortunately beyond my means the early Ford Bronco fits the bill -



Then what about the Dodge Power Wagon -

A modern replica -

It really is that big !

Paul h

[ukjeeper]

Don't google "Legacy Power Wagon". Just don't.

[waveman1500]

Mar 4, 2014 9:28:37 GMT composimmonite said:

I've always liked the original Toyota FJ. In fact whilst not tax exempt the Suzuki LJ80 is neat too.


Paul h

Is the Suzuki LJ50 old enough to go tax exempt in the UK? They're two-stroke, and therefore somewhat ridiculous, but they look like great fun!

[composimmonite]

Then there is the FERVES Ranger (based on Fiat 500) -

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferves

Paul H

[composimmonite]

Mar 4, 2014 11:03:46 GMT ukjeeper said:

Don't google "Legacy Power Wagon". Just don't.

You just know we would
Lottery win type money !

Paul h

[ukjeeper]

Mar 4, 2014 11:41:02 GMT composimmonite said:

Then there is the FERVES Ranger (based on Fiat 500) -

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferves

Paul H

What goes around, comes around. The 2015 Jeep Renegade is based on the (new) Fiat 500:

[PHUQ]

Mar 4, 2014 10:34:07 GMT composimmonite said:

I've had 3 x SIIA & 2 x SIII (as well as Defender, Disco and 3 x Range Rover).
Without spending ages moaning lets say I don't want to go there again - and I'm a Land Rover enthusiast !

Paul h

Surely if you are looking a relatively cheap tax exempt 4x4, you are going to get something thoroughly utilitatian and not dissimilar to a series Land Rover? Early Range Rovers are serious money now, some of the American stuff is a bit more civilised but still costly to buy and run, other than that you are going to be looking in the same ball park surely?

[composimmonite]

I'm not looking for a cheap tax exempt 4x4 - just exploring what is potentially available. If I was to put a sum on max budget then probably £5000 but I wouldn't want to spend that amount with, say, £3000 being about right.
Illness means I can't ride a motorbike any more (I've got 5 plus a quad - Vespa ET4, Honda CB92 Benly, Honda CB400a, Jawa moped and minibike plus Yamaha Breeze quad). Then my 4 wheeled "fleet" needs slimming down (got 6 - Mahindra, Marlin roadster, Austin Sprite, Smart Fortwo, Skoda Fabia and Peugeot Expert). Unless I have a purpose for the proceeds of selling then the monies simply get absorbed into the domestic budget. Far better therefore I spend it on myself and another toy than baked beans
Haflinger is most appealing at present although a Ferves Ranger would be "different". Buying from Europe isn't a problem either.
I'm a dreamer who spends most of their time in bed ill virtually every day. If I didn't dream then I'd have nothing as I can't physically do much anymore.

Paul H