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Joncorry



Member Since: 03 Apr 2022
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 166

 2003 Defender 110 Td5 G4 Challenge Tangiers Orange
My G4
Although I have a 110 already (for sale btw….), it was really a bit too nice for me so I set about sourcing another one that I can use in the way they were intended. The search led me to a G4 which was residing in the Scottish Borders on a small holding and was used as a typical farm truck, I’m not entirely convinced it wasn’t where the pigs resided but it looked reasonable complete, history was good and the chassis/bulkhead are solid so a good starting point.

It joins a few other Orange vehicles on the drive and I’ll work to bring it back to looking nice over time. First things first though is getting it through an MOT and sourcing some arch eyebrows that aren’t glossy or painted plus a service.








 2003 110 G4 used in 03 and 06 events - its well travelled.
2002 Range Rover G4 Event car (Australian leg)
2008 Discovery 3 G4 UK Selections car
1968 Series 2a
Post #970219 7th Nov 2022 9:40am
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Jon w



Member Since: 22 Dec 2015
Location: North East Wales
Posts: 204

Wales 1991 Defender 90 200 Tdi HT Epsom Green
Amazing what some people don’t seem to realise they have. Be great to see it given the respect and use it deserves
Post #970969 13th Nov 2022 2:10pm
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LR Nuts



Member Since: 10 Aug 2022
Location: UK
Posts: 1084

 
did you not see the G4 Range Rover in the drive. Thumbs Up
Post #970971 13th Nov 2022 2:33pm
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90 Dreamer



Member Since: 13 Jul 2019
Location: Oop North
Posts: 2126

United Kingdom 2016 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Corris Grey
Guessing JonW's comment is aimed at the previous owners.....
Post #970972 13th Nov 2022 2:35pm
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Joncorry



Member Since: 03 Apr 2022
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 166

 2003 Defender 110 Td5 G4 Challenge Tangiers Orange
The previous owner bought it unseen from James French as it looked good! I’ll gradually restore it and use it, first jobs are cleaning, maintenance then MOT as it expired whilst I was away for a week, see what that reveals.
It also has the quirk where the temp gauge shoots to hot when first turning on, quick wiggle of the loom and the needle drops and allows it to start. I’ve read somewhere its ECU wires earthing incorrectly or simply loose or a poor earth, either way, I’ll dig around in there to see.

One thing is has done is travel the world. The following was taken from an info sheet a previous owner put together:


The vehicle was first used in the Highlands of Scotland in the UK selection finals for the first G4 competition in 2003, before being used as a logistic support vehicle for the South African (2nd) stage of
the 2003 event.
The Defender was shipped from the UK as a "new" vehicle to Cape Town and allocated fleet number 60. The vehicle was believed to be used as one of the competition team set up vehicles, and would have completed most of the 2003 route by road (these were the quickest means to get about) and would
have been one of the last to be packed and shipped back to the UK.

The Defender then appears to have gone to Taiwan until March 2004, possibly for recceing an alternative venue for the 2006 event. For every location Land Rover uses for the G4 there is always a back-up country just in case something goes wrong, and this may have been why it went there.
Due to the fact that BP52 GHZ was used little off road, and in good condition it moved on to a more crucial role in the set up for the 2006 G4 Challenge.

After being completely re-fettled by Vehicle Operations at Gaydon, including fitting the new "2006" spec equipment and sponsor decals, it and three other vehicles were shipped with a container full of parts and equipment to
Bangkok, Thailand at the end of July 2004, clearing customs at the end of September. The vehicle was shipped into Thailand as a temporary import on the carnet system but was unable to be driven on UK plates. The Thai Authorities allocated the vehicle a "red plate" issued to vehicles that fall into a
category outside those used for normal registration purposes. This Thai registration allowed D3 Management (the G4 event organisers), by special agreement, to take the vehicle into Laos for short periods of time.

The actual Thai number BP52 GHZ was allocated cannot be accurately traced but it remained on that plate for a year until it had to be shipped to Singapore for just four days (terms of the carnet) before returning to Thailand until the end of the 2006 Challenge.

At the end of September 2004 the Defender performed the first reconnaissance trip of Thailand, which was routed from Bangkok, northwest to the border with Myanmar, then north to the Golden Triangle and crossing into Laos. After arriving in Vientienne (Laos capital) at the end of this recce, it was decided that what had been found was insufficient and the trip was extended by five days and continued to search all the way south to the Cambodian border from the Laos side. In those five days the vehicles
averaged over 600km per day!

The next trip was scheduled for March 2005, as other reconnaissance trips were being performed in South America. However, Boxing Day 2004 brought the news of the Tsunami, which decimated the western coastline of Thailand.
The four recce Defenders (including BP52 GHZ) were offered to the Thai authorities to aid the relief effort. The vehicles went on duty for two months and were returned with one or two grizzly reminders of the task they had been involved in (body tags and name sheets).

During the rest of 2005, BP52 GHZ performed three competition recces and a film and photo shoot, and travelled extensively through Laos enduring the rigours of the tracks, river and jungles. In addition three media trips were undertaken, allowing international media a view behind the scenes of how the G4 Challenge is put together. As these trips occurred all through the year, the vehicles had to cope with the whole range of climatic conditions and invariably had to work harder on the recces, than they did on the event.

In 2006, BP52 GHZ was assigned over to the set-up crews who spend the best part of six weeks, prior to the event, in country, operating totally remotely setting up all of the locations that go to make up the competitive element of the event. The vehicle then becomes, home, office, workshop and friend to the two guys that live in it day in day out. Laos has the unenviable title of being the most bombed country in the history of the world, and BP52 GHZ ran alongside G4's colleagues from the bomb disposal company PCL for the set up of the event, as they checked and cleared the locations before they were
used by the competitors.

For the 2006 event itself, BP52 GHZ was reallocated to the communications crew and was allocated to Richard Mumford the G4 comms director, and in most cases was used in and around Vientienne before being driven to Luang Prabang.

From Laos the vehicle formed a support vehicle role for a Thai Land Rover customer Experience trip back to Bangkok over three days. Once back in Bangkok the vehicle was shipped back to Vehicle Operations in Gaydon, where it sat around, possibly being used on the Land Rover Experience fleet for a while, before being stripped of it's unique G4 kit, by Equicar (vehicle dismantlers) and then onwards for disposal to the retail market on the 11th January 2007, with the mileage only showing 13,774 miles.

So there you have it… it’s been around! 2003 110 G4 used in 03 and 06 events - its well travelled.
2002 Range Rover G4 Event car (Australian leg)
2008 Discovery 3 G4 UK Selections car
1968 Series 2a


Last edited by Joncorry on 16th Nov 2022 7:07am. Edited 1 time in total
Post #971085 14th Nov 2022 11:01am
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L90Andy



Member Since: 29 May 2014
Location: Stratford-Upon-Avon
Posts: 717

United Kingdom 1997 Defender 90 300 Tdi ST Nato Green
Brilliant! Lovely vehicle and amazing history. That stuff is priceless to have and really glad you're wanting the best for it as definitely worth saving.
Looking forward to any updates. Instagram: l90andy

2006 Land Rover 90 TD5 CSW Silver Edition

My 1984 Ninety: http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic56071.html - SOLD!
My 2015 Defender: http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic39625.html - SOLD!
Post #971271 15th Nov 2022 9:56pm
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Joncorry



Member Since: 03 Apr 2022
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 166

 2003 Defender 110 Td5 G4 Challenge Tangiers Orange
Thanks Andy, I do like stuff thats had a bit of a life, the G4 L322 was used in Australia in 2003 but I just wish it had its winch still. The 08 Disco was built for selections and used at Eastnor before the 09 event was cancelled, I met a couple of its previous owners at LRO Peterborough this year and they told me a tale or too about it! 2003 110 G4 used in 03 and 06 events - its well travelled.
2002 Range Rover G4 Event car (Australian leg)
2008 Discovery 3 G4 UK Selections car
1968 Series 2a
Post #971286 16th Nov 2022 8:22am
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L90Andy



Member Since: 29 May 2014
Location: Stratford-Upon-Avon
Posts: 717

United Kingdom 1997 Defender 90 300 Tdi ST Nato Green
I'd be tempted to leave it, cosmetically at least, how it is. That look is the result of its fantastic history and once gone would be impossible to get back. Kinda like how Bob Ives Camel Trophy 110 is still battle-scarred. Land Rover use it for display purposes on occasion nowadays.
Much cooler than an as-new shiny!

 Instagram: l90andy

2006 Land Rover 90 TD5 CSW Silver Edition

My 1984 Ninety: http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic56071.html - SOLD!
My 2015 Defender: http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic39625.html - SOLD!
Post #971303 16th Nov 2022 10:33am
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Joncorry



Member Since: 03 Apr 2022
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 166

 2003 Defender 110 Td5 G4 Challenge Tangiers Orange
I’d thought of that rather than going for a full on resto. Tells a story as it is. I do need to swap the near side eyebrow as its split and I’m sure mr MOT will raise it as a sharp edge. Getting it mechanically good is the first job and then through the MOT. 2003 110 G4 used in 03 and 06 events - its well travelled.
2002 Range Rover G4 Event car (Australian leg)
2008 Discovery 3 G4 UK Selections car
1968 Series 2a
Post #971311 16th Nov 2022 10:57am
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Joncorry



Member Since: 03 Apr 2022
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 166

 2003 Defender 110 Td5 G4 Challenge Tangiers Orange
As the weather was on side this morning, I decided to start with the fluid changes. The engine oil and filters was simple enough as was the diffs and transfer box, but rather concerningly was the volume that came out of the diffs and tfr box.







All refilled with correct volumes and specs but will have to keep an eye on leaks and funny noises.

Also changed the rear sliding window felts as the stuff in there was rotten and in pieces, what a faff of job that was!

Spending time underneath it was good and it isn’t fairing too bad. 2003 110 G4 used in 03 and 06 events - its well travelled.
2002 Range Rover G4 Event car (Australian leg)
2008 Discovery 3 G4 UK Selections car
1968 Series 2a


Last edited by Joncorry on 8th Dec 2022 9:11am. Edited 2 times in total
Post #972466 26th Nov 2022 4:20pm
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Joncorry



Member Since: 03 Apr 2022
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 166

 2003 Defender 110 Td5 G4 Challenge Tangiers Orange
With the continuing dry weather, I managed a few more jobs yesterday. Gearbox oil was changed and thankfully about 2 litres came out. I then removed the rather crusty side steps then started on the front wing. It had a knock at some point bending it and splitting the eyebrow, so off came the eyebrow and the wing straightened out ok. The near side headlamp was milky so another Wipac lamp was fitted along with a black surround (the old one was now rather grey).
Just need eyebrow clips to arrive and some bits from JLR classic and I can see if the MOT man thinks its road worthy.


Click image to enlarge
 2003 110 G4 used in 03 and 06 events - its well travelled.
2002 Range Rover G4 Event car (Australian leg)
2008 Discovery 3 G4 UK Selections car
1968 Series 2a
Post #972779 29th Nov 2022 7:18am
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Screbble



Member Since: 26 Apr 2015
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 2076

United Kingdom 2004 Defender 90 Td5 XS CSW Zambezi Silver
Looking good 👍
Post #972787 29th Nov 2022 9:15am
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BrickBox



Member Since: 05 Oct 2021
Location: Wales
Posts: 800

Wales 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Zermatt Silver
Love that. More in-depth pictures, please Mr. Green 2008 2.4 110 Utility Station Wagon XS.
Post #972790 29th Nov 2022 9:40am
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geobloke



Member Since: 06 Nov 2012
Location: Nottinghamshire
Posts: 4410

United Kingdom 
Good lord, I cannot help but be incredibly envious of your G4 110 Rolling Eyes Looking forward to watching the rebuild.
Post #972819 29th Nov 2022 1:19pm
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Joncorry



Member Since: 03 Apr 2022
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 166

 2003 Defender 110 Td5 G4 Challenge Tangiers Orange
Thanks for kind words, I’ll make sure I take more pics. It’ll take time to do but the bonus is a reasonable starting point that is mainly cosmetically challenged. Managed to refit a work light on the back of the rack today which could be handy. Annoyingly, I found the two Bearmach eyebrows that arrived correctly marked up as LH and RH and in fact both RH and I need the LH so on the hunt for some LR Matt versions continues. 2003 110 G4 used in 03 and 06 events - its well travelled.
2002 Range Rover G4 Event car (Australian leg)
2008 Discovery 3 G4 UK Selections car
1968 Series 2a
Post #972872 29th Nov 2022 8:40pm
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