In 1982 I went to a 4X4 Challenge and was lucky enough to co-drive for someone, I was still a school boy and started dreaming of building a 4X4 Challenge vehicle. As an adult other priorities made me forget my passion and in 2002 I competed in my first Challenge in a vehicle that was all but useless, but this was enough to remind me of my passion.

I started looking for a suitable donor vehicle that could be modified into a winning Challenge vehicle. All the other competitors in my town had “pipe cars” (essentially a donor chassis with no body; only a roll cage.)

Build-Up Vehicle:

I found a yellow 1980 2-door RR Classic with a 3.5 L V8. This vehicle was originally used to launch Deep sea boats into the sea by the NSRI near Durban. (Loads of beach sand came out of the chassis when the holes for the flanges of the roll cage were drilled.) The vehicle stood for 7 years next to the sea rusting away before I purchased it.

(My son Bradley was just learning to talk at this stage and was learning what things are called. I was showing the RR to a pal of mine and I said “This is a bargain.” Bradley took this literally and pointed to the RR and called it “Bargin” I spell it like this because he pronounced it like that at the time.)

Getting Started on the Range Rover now called “Bargin”: 

First I stripped the body off and built a roll cage to conform to the Border 4x4 regulations for a Class 3 Challenge vehicle. (at this stage I did not know that the National rules were so different to the Border rules.) As a young teenager I attended the Molteno Challenges regularly and had fond memories of these days. (no roll bars and very dangerous)

Initially only these components were reconditioned or replaced:

1)    The engine was seized and replaced. (3.5 V8 with Stromberg carbs.)

2)    The brake calipers badly rusted and were all replaced with good used ones.

3)    The central diff lock in the transfer box was not working and was repaired. (the selector fork was not in the groove of the lock ring.)

4)    The original tires were modified for traction. (Low budget, in keeping to her name)

5)    The one carb was replaced with one from the original engine.

6)    The radiator was repaired for leaks.

7)    The self leveling mechanism was discarded.

8)    The coil springs were all changed for soft ones from a 1971 RR. (for better axle articulation)

9)    “Fiddle” brakes were installed (These allow me to brake each wheel individually like a human controlled traction control device).

Two months later I entered “Bargan” into its first challenge at Gulu quarry near East London. I went on to win the overall Championship for class-3 (no diff locks axles) in 2003.

I made my own long travel suspension using what I had available. I used two Dampers per wheel for the rear but in series i.e. on top of each other with an intermediate radius arm. This allowed the axle to droop and articulate to the extreme. I drove in class-1 for half the season with welded differentials and found these weak and unreliable.

I decided in June to refine the vehicle into a National Class-3 Championship winning vehicle (the rules require a body as this class is defined as “modified production vehicle without diff locks on the axles”).

I have fitted long travel Dampers purchased from Red Rhino products to replace a home made double Damper system. Rovertech HD cones are next on my list. I am also installing ARB air lockers front and back and a heavy duty airline kit. This is done primarily for strength.

I am using the body from a Series 2, which needs to be widened by 100 mm (4 inches) and lifted by 130mm (5 inches) to fit the outside of the existing roll cage. The fiddle brakes will have to be removed or disabled to conform and the rear welded diff lock has already bean replaced with new side and planetary gears as well as new side shafts all round. The gearbox has also been reconditioned after 2 years of abuse; now she cries no more in second gear.

As for the tires, she is now fitted with 33’ 12.5 R15 Goodyear MTR’s

The whole package is being refined as some of the original work was done in haste due to my eagerness. We will definitely keep you posted on the details.