The Story of the first ever production Land Rover - lost, found then restored.

[Butch]

 

[Lantern]

Great story Butch. Thanks. Here in Oz we have just been treated to this.

 

[Butch]

On 1/22/2024 at 11:18 PM, Lantern said:

Great story Butch. Thanks. Here in Oz we have just been treated to this.

 

Brilliant story, I'm going to order the book next weekend.

"Oxford" is still running, it was found dismantled by a Yorkshireman who's a Land Rover "eccentric" and restored, I think that it's actually done the trip again, but in "reverse". "Cambridge" is still lost, possibly at the bottom of a Ravine somewhere in Iran after a crash, but more than likely dismantled and scavenged for scrap by now.

I love this kind of "overland" trips and videos from the 70's. I recently found a few on YT about a UK company called "Astrans" who used to drive from UK to Saudi / Iran / Iraq back in the 70's. Really interesting stuff.

[Nickrock]

8 hours ago, Butch said:

Brilliant story, I'm going to order the book next weekend.

"Oxford" is still running, it was found dismantled by a Yorkshireman who's a Land Rover "eccentric" and restored, I think that it's actually done the trip again, but in "reverse". "Cambridge" is still lost, possibly at the bottom of a Ravine somewhere in Iran after a crash, but more than likely dismantled and scavenged for scrap by now.

I love this kind of "overland" trips and videos from the 70's. I recently found a few on YT about a UK company called "Astrans" who used to drive from UK to Saudi / Iran / Iraq back in the 70's. Really interesting stuff.

Years ago I watched a documentary on them traveling through Central America there was no real roads in Panama and they were hand winching these Landovers and jeaps up these ridges in the jungle before they put in the highway 

[forcebwithu]

4 hours ago, Nickrock said:

Years ago I watched a documentary on them traveling through Central America there was no real roads in Panama and they were hand winching these Landovers and jeaps up these ridges in the jungle before they put in the highway 

This guy's YT channel as the documentary. Cued to start with his introduction of the video.

 

[Derek Dangleberries]

13 hours ago, Butch said:

Brilliant story, I'm going to order the book next weekend.

Let me know what you think of the book.

I am in the process of setting up an account with Asiabooks, if the first delivery is successful I shall be looking at recommendations ..

[mrcharliemofo]

On 1/22/2024 at 10:40 PM, Butch said:

 

Thanks for that. I was thinking it would be another top to bottom restoration where everything was new and the only original thing would be the number plate.

Loved it when it appeared out of the shop looking like it had just come out of a barn !

[Derek Dangleberries]

13 hours ago, mrcharliemofo said:

Thanks for that. I was thinking it would be another top to bottom restoration where everything was new and the only original thing would be the number plate.

Well said !!

Like Granville and Trigger's Broom ...

[Butch]

On 1/25/2024 at 11:47 PM, Derek Dangleberries said:

Well said !!

Like Granville and Trigger's Broom ...

LOL, yep that's the problem with a few restorations, they're more or less a new vehicle carrying only the physical identity markings of it's former self.

There's 2 types of restoration, full / partial or sympathetic . Full / partial uses new parts to bring the car to either as good as new (full) or roadworthy (partial) condition, sympathetic uses as many of the original parts as possible either refurbished or, in the case of bushes and brake lines, replaced using "NOS - New Old Stock or parts following the same original specs as the old ones (so replace all the perishable / consumeable stuff).

Personally I like to see a sympathetic resto done, especially on vehicles of this status. Retaining the patina, the battlescars and the wear and tear and the character of the original vehicle. Having a car that you can eat yur dinner off the floor of is all well and good, but at that point it's function of being a car changes to that of being an ornament, in a few cases.

Edited January 27 by Butch

[Lantern]

I could be a little sympathetic to safety improvements though. Say, disk brakes all round etc. or getting rid of Lucas "prince of darkness" electrics.

[Butch]

11 hours ago, Lantern said:

I could be a little sympathetic to safety improvements though. Say, disk brakes all round etc. or getting rid of Lucas "prince of darkness" electrics.

Ahhh Another fella who's had the pleasure of Lucas sealed beam units, they were bloody woeful weren't they lol.

I had them on my mark one escort, I did consider replacing them with a candle in each glass for better vision at night!.

 

[Lantern]

9 hours ago, Butch said:

Ahhh Another fella who's had the pleasure of Lucas sealed beam units, they were bloody woeful weren't they lol.

I had them on my mark one escort, I did consider replacing them with a candle in each glass for better vision at night!.

 

I also had a Mk1 Escort. Had to fit a set of spotlights, even though most of my driving was in Leeds.

[maipenrai]

I ran across this lovely old 1955 Series I on 2nd Rd the other day -  I thought the old Brit inside it was the owner but it was actually the Asian fellow's machine, apparently he has several in Australia. This machine has been well done as it still has its original engine but has had a new aftermarket carburetor fitted, as well as being converted to 12V negative ground electrics. The capstan winch on the back is a nice touch, as well - it's the first I've actually seen and harkens back to the Land Rover's original intended purpose which was as a low-cost agricultural implement: 

[Butch]

^^^^^

Excellent spot @maipenrai The Capstan winch is a very rare and optional extra as I understand it (might be wrong) and they are available aftermarket as well.

That's a lovely old girl, I'll be keeping an eye out for it in the future if it's a local car.