Update on Dormobile Down under
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G’day,
I am the latest owner of a 1964 109″ 4cyl Petrol Land Rover Station wagon Dormobile in OZ. This vehicle has been mentioned on this forum (see Dormbile Downunder) and is pictured on the Teriann Wakeman and John Hess site. There was some speculation here that it might not be a “real” Dormobile, but it really is, although most of the interior has been lost. It still retains the roof, front passenger seat, part of the right hand rear fold-up seat frame, the original Calorgas stove and box, the curtain runners and the Martin Walter Serial Plate. It has lost the side badges on the front wings, but you can see where they have been! An extra set of headlights have been added to the front wings ala Series III Landies. Chassis number is 26203125B, Engine Number 25194539B or D, or F?? Suffiix poorly Stamped. Dormobile number U.11619.4.626. Original colour light green. Oh, the the funny light on the back is a tail light from an 1950’s FJ Holden (may be worth more than the Landy!).Currently it is not going (or stopping) and had to be trucked 1000 kms from Ballina in northern NSW to Melbourne after a “sight unseen” Ebay purchase! I will keep you informed of progress.
Cheers, IanCongratulations!
It looks like it is a lovely car, fairly untouched “in its juice’ as we would say over here, in Frogland.
It may sound impossible but who knows, I have a dream of a worldwide dormobile gathering, sometimes, somewhere…
Bets of luck, do post loads of pics!
Kind regards,Marc
G’day Marc
Yes, it is pretty straight but there is still a lot to do. Here are few more pics of preserved bits. I will of course post more pics as things progress.
Cheers, IanHi Ian,
I love the old SII’s. Getting it running and stopping won’t be hard. Maybe you can finance it by selling the exotic tail light. Is it rusty? It doesn’t look too bad.
The Dormobile parts are another story. That’s cool to see that you’re finding so many original parts, but changed to suit the previous owners’ needs. Having a relatively standard Dormobile, which in pictures seems to not need much work at all, I am amazed at how much work it has taken to get it back together the way it’s “supposed” to be … In your case, I like the quirky changes, like the sand-colored stove cabinet with the sink lopped off. Unless you’re a proficient metalworker with a good tool set who can re-make all the bits, or you have a list of all the previous owners who you might contact for the missing parts, I’d keep it “historic” by preserving it how it is. I love the “Dormobile” ghost lettering.
-Jeremy
G’day Jeremy
Overall condition is pretty good but there is quite a bit of unsympathetic welding on the chassis with complete substitution of the rear cross-member with a bit of chequerplate. A bit of rust-through in the front footwells but not too serious. The rear door Pillar (“C” pillar?) is fractured on both sides near the base angle and will need to be repaired.
I can fabricate any of the interior bits I need if I go that route and have recently completed restoration of a 1948 Series 1 from basket case status. But this will not happen with the Dormobile as I am of the same view regarding retaining the patina of old vehicles and will only fix the mechanical bits for safe use.
Cheers, Ian.Hi Ian,
I just realized that your stove is mounted on a rear set frame?! How does that work?
-JeremyHi L Rova,
Congratulations on winning the “Dormobile Down Under ” 😉 I missed it the first time round and I missed it the second too 😥 after being stuck in traffic. I’m pleased that it will get a rebuild, if you change your mind about it, please let me know as I’d certainly take it off your hands. I’d be interested in getting a mould from your roof, so more could be made available over here. I’m about 40 kilometres n/west of Brisbane.
Gday
Hi from Perth Western Australia.
I have been lucky enough to get hold of an original 1963/64 Landrover Dormobile, 5 door station wagon. Sold new in England in 1964, delivered on Christmas Eve and I suspect driven to directly to Australia. As the next service entry in the original service book that came with the car, notes that in 1965 was service was in Perth Western Australia and has been here ever since.
The good news it is, in the main it is in sound order, with not much rust in normal areas. Doors are stuffed though but I have got period replacements in good order. The original seats, as with roof, bunks etc are there. Unfortunately the original kitchen and robe are missing as are some of the original detail parts .I would be keen to get as much info on the build speck and history, key details etc for a Landrover of this period. The goal is to restore it back to original condition and use it to explore.
Is the such a thing a 2nd hand parts? As the new /replacement parts are expensive but at least it would appear you can get them. I would be interested in getting work shop drawings for the kitchen unit and robe, if they were available .I don’t have huge budget and not after a trailer queen or show pony. I have been able to piece together a list of most of the missing parts I need but would like to get some good interior shots of a original UK build example. In particular the dash .It looks like it may have some Dormobile trim but now missing .Most photo records I have are knock down kit USA versions not the factory built RH drive versions.
I don’t know of any other Dormobile’s in Western Australia. I understand that there might be at least 2, on the on the East Coast of Australia. Dorothy the Dormobile, as she has become known, is my 8th Landrover/Range Rover .I still have a 2a 1966 on my farm but in rough condition [this one made most of the access tracks/roads though the scrub on the property] and a 71 Range Rover [anther project, for one day ] .
Cheers
Marc Drexel.
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