Aiyo machanla, just wanted to ask a question that's been bugging me for a while. Back in the day, you couldn't drive 5km in this country without spotting a Series II or Series III Land Rover. Now, I feel like they've all vanished. Maybe they're sitting under tarpaulin sheets in estates or collecting rust under mango trees in rural backyards, but on the roads – nothing.
I still remember my grandfather's old Series III. The dashboard shook like crazy, steering was heavier than a concrete mixer, but the feeling of riding in it... priceless. You just don't get that same raw driving experience anymore.
Do any of you still see these classics on the road? Or even better – anyone here still running one? Would love to know where in the island they've survived. Matale, Badulla, Ella, and Ratnapura come to mind. And if anyone's restoring one, please drop photos or tell us how you're doing it. Let's keep the Defender legacy alive, machanla. These machines deserve a second life.
Yes machan, I feel you. It's sad but true – the classics are disappearing slowly. But I can confirm there's still life left in a few places. My cousin in Bandarawela still drives a Series II daily. No fancy upgrades, just maintained properly. His mechanic knows the vehicle inside out – no computer, no scanner, just pure mechanical knowledge.
In Kandy side also, I saw a fully restored Series III parked near Peradeniya junction last week. Looked like it just came out of the factory. White body, black steel rims, spotless inside.
The thing is, not many people have the patience or skill to keep them going now. Most mechanics don't want to touch them, and the new generation prefers Japanese SUVs with sensors and auto boxes. But these Landys have soul, no?
Let's keep sharing stories. And if anyone wants to start a "Classic Landy Map" of SL, I'm totally in.