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66 88 Searle Safari LHD

Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2019 4:13 am
by RoverRod
Greetings from New Hampshire, USA

I am the new owner of a solid Searle 88 project. Vin starts with a 244 suggesting original LHD petrol and the C suffix dating it around 66/67.

Not much Safari accessories with the exception of the front seats. Hopeful that I can get enough information from the group to recreate at a minimum the rear seats, with the intention of actually hitting the road with it in a few years.

Intersting sidenote is the UK tag; wondering if anyone knows anything about it, or can point me to a source of information to try and understand if it spent some time in the UK. Maybe from elsewhere in Europe originally?

Any information would be helpful, and I'll start another thread once I get going on the project sometime in the spring.

Best regards,

Rod

Re: 66 88 Searle Safari LHD

Posted: Sat Nov 23, 2019 4:32 pm
by RMS
Hi Rod,

I'm not sure there will be a lot missing, apart from the seats and possibly a table :shrug:

The rear windows have probably been added by a previous owner - I think the Safari usually had van sides.

Have you checked the brochures in the member's only section of the forum HERE and HERE?

I'm sure Stu will be along soon - he's the expert on the 88" Searle Safari.

Keep us up to date with the restoration - it's good to see another being saved :cheers:

Cheers,
Robin.

Re: 66 88 Searle Safari LHD

Posted: Sat Nov 23, 2019 4:42 pm
by RMS
That registration doesn't come up on the UK DVLA database, so was probably exported before the records were computerised.

There is a process for trying to get historic info from the DVLA, but it's very restricted now due to GDPR (privacy) which tightened things up a year or so ago!

However, we do know that the registration area of XC (as in MXC) between 1964 and 1974 was Solihull, so might even have been factory registered :shrug:

Cheers,
Robin.

Re: 66 88 Searle Safari LHD

Posted: Sat Nov 23, 2019 4:48 pm
by RMS
Oh, and the repositioned front sidelights and indicators could have meant it had Jerry cans fitted in front of the wings.

Are the lights on top of the wings headlights (ie. dip & full beam)? If they are I wonder if that was a local regulation for the positioning of lights - that's one of the reasons LR moved the headlights to the wings on later vehicles, for the USA market :tiphat:

Re: 66 88 Searle Safari LHD

Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2019 9:09 am
by Stuey
It is indeed a Searle Safari and going on the British registration plate looks like the second oldest that I am aware of.

Due to the anti luce locks on the back I wonder if it was fitted with a tailgate and catflap?

Lots of the missing / damaged parts are normal Land Rover items so should be no problem in getting those found.
However the ‘bed’ is missing, which makes these motors what they are, but nothing is unsurmountable just depends on how much time, energy and cash you have!

Good find and thank you for sharing :nana1:

Re: 66 88 Searle Safari LHD

Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2019 2:34 am
by RoverRod
Thank you all for the comments. I've been traveling for work and not been focused on checking the site, so it was nice to see the responses.

I am not physically at the location where the truck is, although will be during the holidays, so I'll capture some additional photos and see if I can close some of the info holes.

It may well have been an hatchback/tail gate because I purchased the same from the gentlemen I bought the truck from; wasn't mentioned at the time, but will circle back as they were roughly the same color from the photos.

I'll keep everyone up to date, and any ideas as to how to get pictures (I have the brochures which aren't that helpful) or dimensions for the beds, would be much appreciated.

Best from across the pond.

Rod