RE: SER1 Work Shop Manual Downloads

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Hi Tom,

I think very few things about an original 1948 80" would pass first
world (read specifically USA) legislation. Some African and Asian
countries are much easier on this sort of thing.  I read an article on
the current G4 challenge where the author drove a RR Sport through Laos
in Asia and it seems as if anything goes in Laos as far as transport is
concerned.  People drive any home build pipe cars on public roads (if
you can call the tracks roads).  The people are really poor and to them
it would probably make sense to have something that is cheap and easy to
self-maintain/repair.  They dont care (or even know) about ABS and
airbags.  Problem is the buying power in such a country can never pay
for the costs to manufacture and market even the simplest of commercial
cars. Even in a country like South Africa quite a number of new cars are
still sold without many safety features to speak of. Years ago, if you
ventured into "dark" Africa, you saw lots of series Land Rovers in daily
use.  Because of a number of reasons (cost, reliability, spares
availability, ability to do DIY repairs, poor distribution & marketing)
Land Rovers are dissapearing from "dark" Africa and are being replaced
by Toyotas.  I think a simple, cheap, reliable, easy to work on LR would
be welcomed in these poor African and Asian countries.

But instead, even the Defender will soon boast airbags and a host of
other features so pass US legislation.  Before long it will also ride on
an air suspension and a highly sophisticated 4WD system that adjusts to
different off-road terrain at the touch of a button. Pity if you ask me
- but thats just me!

Regards,
   Hennie

-----Original Message-----
From: series1-host@xxxxxxxxx.xxx [mailto:series1-host@xxxxxxxxx.xxx] On
Behalf Of Alex
Sent: Thursday, 29 September 2005 14:45 PM
To: series1@xxxxxxxxx.xxx
Subject: Re: SER1 Work Shop Manual Downloads


Tom Wykes wrote:

>
>
> It would be lovely to see the "series" re-manufactured. Trouble is
> they would never pass any of today's laws governing new cars. It would

> be interesting to compile a list of what they would and wouldn't pass.
>




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