Posted by R. Reavey on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 at 1:11AM :
I am, have been, a Series Land Rover guy. Another legendary vehicle with lots of quirks. I now live in Malaysia but we are on the verge of moving to the US. My first experience of Power Wagons was when I was living in Dubai. I saw this THING parked on the side of the road for sale and had to stop and look. It was an early 60's W300 in good restored condition. I had never seen anything like it. It was like like a dinosaur. I really wanted it. However the recent purchase of a SIII Land Rover gave the wife leverage in rejecting this idea.
We are now on the verge of moving to the States and I have been reading about, lurking on various sites, and generally drooling over various Power Wagons but seem to have set my sites on an M37/B1. I have found one for sale (1953)that "looks" to be in great shape, with a 12v conversion, power steering and brakes, a 360 and either NP420 or NP435. Not sure whether it's got 4.89 diffs or not. Comes with a well-sorted trailer.
Now, here's the reality check. I work and will work in an office - probably in NYC though home will hopefully be suburban (otherwise it's a definite no on the truck). I'm not very interested in military shows (or rather in showing) and I'll already be bringing my Land Rover with me (makes it on the 25 year rule). This all points to the M37 not being used as intended very often.
As a Series Land Rover owner, I am used to and enjoy driving a vehicle that requires being driven rather than just pointed. But, I don't know whether an M37 - even with the modernisations and modifications - is at all practical, not as a daily driver (which it wouldn't be) but as a weekender. Finally, would this just be a waste of a good M37?
I would appreciate your thoughts on whether I should take the plunge or not.
Thanks.
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