The vehicle that we have chosen to use for our expedition is a Landrover 130 Tdi.

For me there was no question about what make of  vehicle to take, only what model.

I have been using various landrovers as my only main form of transport for a number of years now.  I personally have progressed through the Landrover evolutionary process having owned / driven / repaired Series II and Series III leaf-sprung models, and more recently a self-built “hybrid” comprising Series III body and Range Rover running gear.

There was no question about whatever it was, it had to have coil springs!  For me the  increased off-road capabilites were important,  and we both agreed that leaf springs on Indian roads would be a back-breaking, uncomfortable experience!

Choice of engine was not hard.  It had to be diesel. Fuel economy, simplicity, reliability and easy to source fuel.  Worth the relatively small difference in vehicle cost.  Landrover’s own Tdi engine was our preffered choice on both performance and reliability grounds.  Tdi’s don’t have nasty reputations for timing belts and other numerous inherent faults like the older 2.5 and 2.5 turbo!  Even with our fully loaded 3,300kg we can cruise at 110km/h happily (130km/h max for daring overtaking!!).

We decided that a 130 was the best choice for an expedition as long as ours.  Whilst the manoeverability and capabilities may be impaired compared to the shorter 90 and 110, the space increase, especially in the cab, makes it the sort of vehicle you can really “live in”.

Our hardest part was finding the “perfect vehicle”.

Months of trawling through Land Rover Owner, Land Rover World, Auto-Trader etc, etc.  Eventually one turned up in a dealers yard in Essex.  We went to inspect what Roger Bass had to offer!  It was a 1993 model Defender 130 Crew cab pickup. Bright red, faily straight, very tidy interior, and, mosty importantly for a landrover – very little chassis corrosion.  We both agreed on the spot that this is what we had been waiting for!  After a brief negotiating session we parted with the deposit and eagerly awaited the following week when we could pick it up!

So in June 1999 we be came the proud new owners of K773 GKV!  A mere 27,000 miles old and ready for the trip of it’s life!