Blame it on the Leylands, but I've always had a thing for sand. Nobody told me that Series 2 Landies and sand are sometimes mortal enemies. Soo..off to the
sand dunes at night (in those days it wasn't considered ecological vandalism) and she's running sweetly along
the beach.
Ahh...there's a small
sand dune, rev, and zoom...
well if you're walking it was a zoom.
And...sinks straight into the base. No vertical movement at all. All my instincts are saying "reverse reverse". So, low low reverse and
"BANG"
No movement at all. Rev rev and nothing so I get out and notice that the rear diff has a piece of axle poking out of it.
It's now around 9pm and by the time I walk to a phone box, my mate's party is in full swing. They've had enough grog (pre RBT) not to worry what the story is, they just want some fun. When they arrive we tie the ropes and chains end to end and I'm outta there. (snatch straps weren't invented..at least not for 4wds) They retire to the party to have a great laugh. I retire to the Landrover parts catalogue.
Two weeks later the brakes fail. Luckily I'm on sand again. (that should have told me something).
I leave my baby at the brakes place and pick it up after forking out $1200 !!!
Now that's not a huge bill, right ?
Well I can assure you it was in 1974. In fact it was about a third (maybe half?) of the value of the vehicle!
I was starting to think that one had to be both a mechanic and wealthy to do this 4wd stuff.(and I was right)
I was neither, but I was hooked anyway.
So that night I went out to the old girl, patted her steering wheel and explained the facts of life.
"Baby, when ya gotta go, ya gotta go."
The next week I bought a Landcruiser. How was I to know there was a huge rust hole in one wheel
well ?
But that's another story.