Curbside Classic Outtake: Forbidden Fruit

by Paul Niedermeyer

Published: October 15th, 2010

curbside classic outtake forbidden fruit

Since today’s theme is the rapidly shrinking offering of genuine off-roaders available in the land of the free, here’s one that’s not on the list. That didn’t keep this owner from getting it registered in Oregon, along with several other “illegal aliens” I’ve nabbed so far.

It’s got the desirable diesel too. Ready for an around-the-world journey; or did it already do that and end up in Eugene?

A glance in the back window shows a cook-top and sink.

I’m going to have to acquaint myself with Oregon’s laws to figure out how all these forbidden imports are seeping through our borders, so I can start my wish list.

#LandRover

Paul Niedermeyer

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6 of 33 comments

Splateagle on Oct 16, 2010

Pretty much every second car in the Highlands and Islands here is one of these - I love 'em. Paul, a request/suggestion spurred partly by this and partly by the recent handful of French CCs - would it be possible to have a regular Curbside Classics Abroad feature? (regular in the way Trucks have become regulars at the weekends I mean) I'm avid fan of the series, but being a non-american very few of the cars featured are cars I'll ever have had the chance to see, so I never go for the clues - and I suspect I'm not alone. If there were a regular slot when we knew the upcoming CC would definitely be something originating from outside the US it might make the guessing fun for the rest of us too? Just a thought. However you structure it, please keep them coming!

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- Paul Niedermeyer on Oct 16, 2010
  
  splateagle, If someone wants to send me abroad, I'd be happy to oblige. Most of the cars I find here are imports, of course. And pointing out that a CC Clue is specifically for a foreign car would be a big hint.
  
  But I get your point, and I'll consider it. Thanks.
  
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StatisticalDolphin on Oct 16, 2010

Haphazardly repaired corrosion can be seen along the door sill below the Tdi sticker.

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- Nicodemus on Oct 16, 2010
  
  You are sorely mistaken regarding the corrosion...The bodies of Defenders are famously made from an Aluminium/magnesium alloy called 'BirmaBright' (ie Birmingham/Bright). Only their chassis rusts. The alloy body is the whole reason for there being a Land-Rover in the first place. You see after the war, car companies in the UK faced rationing for steel - they were allocated steel only on the basis of how many cars they'd exported. The Rover car company came up with the plan of designing a vehicle that would A) Primarily be exported (Africa, Australia etc..) , B) used in protected industries which also gave a steel credit (ie Farming) and C) Minimised the useage of steel. Aluminium alloys, were in great abundance after the war due to so many surplus airframes being scrapped, so Rover used this material to a greater or lesser extent in all their cars, but none more so than the Land-Rover. So what you see on that sill is most assuredly not rust.
  
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- Sinistermisterman on Oct 18, 2010
  
  'Only their chassis rust.' My Grandfathers 1953 SWB is currently on its 3rd chassis! A combination of galvanic corrosion and living by the seaside has lead to a lot of sweating and cursing as you unbolt everything and swap it over. Fortunately land rovers are very easy to work on.
  
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- Acubra on Oct 19, 2010
  
  Nicodemus, It actually CAN be corrosion, although an electrochemical one. Oh, and not all Defender's body panels are aluminum any more.
  
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