2018-09-01 Classic Land Rover
2018-09-01 Classic Land Rover
2018-09-01 Classic Land Rover
Radio 2’s
100S%IC Lynn Bowles
CLAS and the IIA
ISSUE NO 62
£4.50
September
Australian Adventures in Series Land Rovers Ü 2018 £4.50
JOURNEYS
Sri Lanka: Land Rover workshop
Orkney Islands: Travelling by 109 JAN 2017 £4.40
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FROM THE EDITOR
SEPTEMBER 2018
Copies of Classic Land Rover can be obtained Classic Land Rover (ISSN 2052 2258) is We are unable to guarantee the bona fides of
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On the
MAGAZINE www.classiclandrover.c
om
road
SSIC
again
IVE
US
CL
EX
Rover today. See pages 48-49 for all special offers. First and Last
Classic Land Rovers
in Scotland,Wales
LAND ROVERS
and Indonesia
Series II 2286cc
JAN 2017 £4.40
32 LOVE ISLAND
Fun with friends and old Land Rovers; a
great weekend on Anglesey with the Land
Rover Series One Club
38 A FRENCH FLUTTER
Two Frenchmen have a wager that they
can get to the Jubilé de Platiné in Forward
Controls - neither of them have one
46 SHAPE-SHIFTING
Eric Hayman visited Sri Lanka and stopped
off at an interesting Land Rover garage in
the capital Colombo.
52 BRAND LOYALTY 32
Bob Boagey’s life in Land Rovers - part one
JOURNEYS
38 92 CROSSING A CONTINENT
Part one of Louis Wyatt’s epic trans-Australia travels
86 MATT’S ENGINE
Part 3 of Matt Savage’s project to fit an old VW engine
into his Series One
REGULARS
12 NEWS AND VIEWS 79
Letters, news and other bits in this month’s round-up
50 CENTRESPREAD
21 EVENT LISTINGS A Series Two 109in hard-top seen at the Shackleton weekend,
Now that the kids have broken up from school, the at Sywell aerodrome April 13, 1962
summer is in full swing and there are events a-plenty to
occupy them 74 OUR LAND ROVERS
Emrys refits a 2,286cc petrol to his Series III, and John
19 BEHIND THE WHEEL - Carroll keeps us up-to-date with the magazine’s project
Hatch, match and despatch - Land Rovers are a part of Lightweight
life says Vicky Turner
79 VINTAGE ESSENTIALS
23 EVENT REVIEWS Craig Allen extols the virtue of the Vango Force 10 tent
Beaulieu, Capel, Glamis, Goodwood, Billing and a Series
2 Club meet in Yorkshire; we really have travelled the 98 LOOKING BACK
length and breadth of the UK this month 1960: Parading of The Queen’s Colour
W
hen Lynn Bowles left Radio 2, Chris
Evans gave her a Series IIA as a
leaving present; but it wasn’t just any
old IIA, this one had appeared in the 2018 film
Peter Rabbit.
Lynn Bowles doesn’t usually name her cars but a
friend decided this one was a Henry, and it seems
to fit quite well with a Beatrix Potter-themed tale.
Beatrix was fiercely protective of her work and
in 1936, she refused permission for Walt Disney to
make a Peter Rabbit film. What she would have
thought of the animation by Sony Pictures has
been widely speculated upon.
There’s no doubt she would have been surprised
by the inclusion of a Land Rover as there isn’t
a vehicle of any sort in the original book (there
weren’t many around in 1893 when it was
first written).
This 1969 Series IIA is one of two Land Rovers
used in the filming. The other was used for
sequences filmed in Australia, but when the
production company needed to shoot on location
in the UK, rather than shipping it over they
approached TV and film vehicle specialist Action
99 Cars to provide a match.
Action 99 sourced a mechanically-sound vehicle
then worked from photos to match it to the
Australian Land Rover; changes included a full re-
spray, new seat covers and a host of smaller details.
The vehicle was used for filming on location in
Windermere and offered for auction in March 2018,
just one month after the film was released.
‘Lynn vividly
remembers being
driven to her own
christening in a
Land Rover’
Fans
been very tiring to drive from Bedfordshire
to Wales in time for a 10am start. It also
gave me the opportunity to meet a few
folks before the off and as is often the If you haven’t already heard
case with such things, it’s the people who the news, Fender and Dan
make it really memorable. have been travelling through
Strata Florida itself certainly didn’t dis- Africa from Cairo to Cape
www.firstfour.co.uk
appoint, I think the timing was absolutely Town and you can now read
right as the river crossings were at a friendly level The social in the evening was equally fabulous - about all their adventures in
and frankly I wouldn’t have wanted to attempt the the food was great, the company was even better a new story in the Landy and
Bomb Hole if it’d had a torrent flowing through it!! and my only regret is combining my cider with Friends book series.
That was certainly one of my highlights from the Toby’s frankly nasty red wine (it was so nasty I had We’re also delighted to let
actual route - it’s quite discombobulating to look to try several cupfuls to be sure...) you know that the new Fender
through the windscreen and see only sky! But Mat- Other than that and ‘The Ankle’ Incident I really animation joins Landy on the
tilda performed flawlessly for the whole trip and I’m don’t see how the trip could be bettered. I just Landy and Friends YouTube
immensely relieved about that (I even managed an hope we get to do it again at some point! Although, Channel. Fender and Dan are
average 23mpg, for George’s benefit). perhaps Gatescarth next time? Keith Smith busy doing a beach clean-
up, when they find a baby
seal that need
rescuing.
Please send in your news and letters for inclusion on these pages. It may be a new product https://tinyurl.
com/y8lhdba3
you’re retailing for the first time; a show you’re organising; a piece of research you’re aware
of; a special Land Rover you own or know of; in fact, anything at all you feel may be of interest
to our readers. Please email vicky.turner@keypublishing.com
12 SEPTEMBER 2018
NEWS & VIEWS
Binding Hardback
Size 220mm x 270mm
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Price £29.95
Pages 236
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The second Defend- – I’m very happy indeed with the results, and you have my deepest
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NEWS & VIEWS
Hollowell
Steam
Fair
The hills were
For the past 32 years the lanes historic vehicles and the Land
around Hollowell in North- Rover marque was well repre-
amptonshire have tested the sented in this, the 70th year.
of Solihull
their way to the annual Hollowell Others in their line up were an
Steam Fair. The show has interesting 6x6 conversion and a
grown each year and attracts very smart restored 80in. Else-
a crowd of about 60,000 over where there were other classic
a weekend in July. These days Land Rovers including a lovely
Malvern Land Rover Show 2018
it has opened its gates to other pair of 80in examples. TS
Arriving late meant the show had quietened down by the time we
got there, but that added to the relaxed atmosphere. Walking round
snapping pictures showed there was a healthy variety of models on
display in the clubs’ stand area, and a reasonable number of stands in
the autojumble sections, selling everything from rare Series One parts
up to bolt-on trinkets in the indoor bit.
For me this was the first Malvern show where it hadn’t rained, and
Patina National RTV
In conjunction
that made a welcome change .
with the nice folk
While it’s not the biggest it does have a nice vibe to it. VD
at the YLROC -
Tom Benson in
particular – CLR
Special edition
has organised
a trials site and
campsite for
the 2018 Patina
National RTV
Land Rover special- on September
ists for more than 40 15 at Helmsley
years, Jake Wright, in North York-
has created a Land shire.
Rover special edition The Patina
to look just like the National is pre-
recently announced dominantly for non-shiny, road legal, leaf-sprung
factory-built 70th 80, 86 and 88in Land Rovers but is open to all leafers including
anniversary reborn Jeeps, Austin Gipsys etc. Trials classes will be as follows; Leaf
edition. springs ‘up to 87in’, ‘over 87in’ and ‘95in and over’.
It is based on a Door tops not required, seat belts (minimum lap belt), hood
300Tdi 90 and has sticks and windscreens required.
been rebuilt from the Drivers must be in an MSA-registered club and bring their mem-
ground up with many bership card to prove it, scrutineering to MSA regs.
new parts. Trophies for three trials classes and one for highest placed
It even has a WKS registration number just like the works 70th Non-Land Rover as well as others; Long Distance (for the entrant
editions. More details from John Wright on 01943 863530. who drives his/her Land Rover the furthest to enter). Best Dressed
Crew (for the duo most suit-
ably dressed to suit the age
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Hatch, Match
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Land Rovers have been there during
WORDS VICKY TURNER
every milestone of Vicky Turner’s life ILLUSTRATION LOUISE LIMB
R
eading Louise Limb’s article in as they can reach the pedals and turn the myself not just the owner but the custodian
last month’s CLR about Paul Tait’s wheel safely. I also have a campervan and of Bluetit and one day, hopefully a very
Series III restoration with his father on my demise, they have agreed to share long time in the future, I look forward to
made me think again about how much it and the Land Rover between them. I handing the keys over for its history to
to me, and to many of you reading these suppose I should be grateful that they can continue under the right foot of one or both
pages, our Land Rovers mean to us. They agree on this at least after my death, even of my kids and even grandchildren - who
are so much more than soulless machines. if they are seemingly unable to agree on knows? Each Land Rover we feature seems
They are our hobby, our relaxation, the anything while I am alive and in the role to have the story of the families that have
drain on our bank accounts, our social of parent mediator. owned them interwoven into their very
life and more. They really are part of the I suppose my own interest in Land fabric; it is for that reason I will never
family and with us through some of life’s Rovers stems from my father, a Somerset tire of Land Rover life, meeting the people
seminal moments; a means of transport farmer’s son who served in the British and hearing the story of their vehicle and
yes, but also a conduit through life. Army and who fondly remembers incidentally the story of their life. To do so
For me, Land Rovers are an integral part spending many hours driving Land Rovers is fascinating and a privilege and so much
of life, not just because of the job. I learned in places like Kenya and Aden during his more than rivets and rust. On Facebook
to drive in my friend’s dad’s Series One service. Sadly he is no longer with us but or round the campfire, we should all try
farm hack, that still exists in a barn in he would have been tickled pink to know harder to remember what is important; is it
Wiltshire awaiting my friend’s retirement what I have ended up doing. what someone has done with their lights or
for its resurrection. My son was brought How many weddings these days see the wheels? Which stickers someone chooses?
home from hospital in the Land Rover I bride or groom arrive and leave in a Land Which engine? No matter how divided we
owned at the time; I well remember how Rover? And it is not uncommon to see a are over paint or patina or which model of
tricky it was to strap in the child seat for convoy of Land Rovers behind the formal the marque we perceive to be best, we all
the first time and how daunting to then funeral procession; a fitting tribute to have love and loss and life in common.
drive away with this tiny creature, not yet members of our tribe. A sad celebration If I ever get married again, I’d probably
having a clue how to be a mum but already of one life lived. Perhaps my father’s and a
drive myself there in Bluetit...
CLR coverage
Prizes
m
t
i
Motorsport
Camping
Points of interest
August
2-5
Series 2 Club Rally
Wing Hall, Wing on the banks of Rutland Water
Contact John Stokes on email:
eastmidlands@series2club.co.uk
or the events page on Facebook www.facebook.com/
events/77793625239430
tc
12
Raby Castle Classics in the Park
Raby Castle, Staindrop, Co Durham, DL2 3AH
016974 51882
info@markwoodwardclassicevents.com
www.markwoodwardclassicevents.com
17-19
Bal des Series, Le Temps Des Series
Château de Périgères, Mons, 63310
www.le-temps-des-series.com
Images:
auto-illustrierte/Vesa Eskola
www.retroeighty.co.uk
Breaking Records
A
fter changing the head gasket on
Tak, my 1955 Series One 86in we ‘There was a
arrived at Billing on the Friday.
It’s a quiet day; the main show isn’t open definite lump in
to the public as the stands were setting up.
However, the seldom-used and traditional the throat as the
Riverside off-road course was open, so
we went off to enjoy that in convoy - Tak
first vehicles to
with Rosie, Ste’s twin-turbo V8 Discovery
One.
finish crossed
Sadly, about a third of the way round the line’
somebody up ahead missed a turn and
101FC on the off-road course ended up on their side, fortunately unhurt,
but the recovery closed the course.
Saturday morning greeted us with more The final figure was 915 Land Rovers in
sunshine, so we went to see, and take the convoy, which was an incredible sight.
pictures of, the Lakeside course before At the time of writing this, the official
Saturday’s big event – the record attempt verdict on the record is still being awaited
for the most Land Rovers in a convoy. from Guinness as they review the evidence
In the background of the entrance to the collected on the day, but rest assured it’ll
off-road course from about noon there had be in CLR when it’s known.
been a steady flow of Land Rovers into Saturday evening afforded the chance
the registration and staging area for the to get Tak and Oxford together, an
convoy attempt. opportunity not to be missed.
Re-torqueing the cylinder head Once registered, vehicles were parked up Sunday was the final day of the show,
and could be left before the official return so a good day to walk around the
Series III HCPU, not common, to vehicles’ time of 4.30pm. As always showground trying to get some last-
especially with the roof off with these kinds of things there was a minute deals from the sellers: “Saves
delay, but the convoy started at just gone you taking it home, right?” and taking
5pm, only minutes after the announced time to watch the Challenge South West
start time. folks doing their high-speed display and
Positioned just after the finish line for rides in the dust of the top field course,
pics and video, there was a definite lump spectacular to see.
in my throat as the first vehicles crossed Everybody asked said a variation of the
the line, made all the more poignant with same thing, that the show had a fantastic
them being a Royal Review Series One, atmosphere and they would be back again
and the ever awesome Oxford. next year! a
24 SEPTEMBER 2018 www.classiclandrover.com
EVENTS AND RALLIES WORDS AND PICTURES VIOLET DEACON
Rummaging
Around
Violet Deacon had an enjoyable day
Wares spread in the sunshine
out at Beaulieu Land Rover Rummage
T
he Land Rover Rummage at the MoD paint sharing stand space with
National Motor Museum at Beaulieu footballs and a Stage One bonnet.
in Hampshire’s New Forest took After walking to the rummage, we had
place on May 20. It was an early start from time to look around the museum’s varied
the Midlands, but with the sunrise hinting collection, including a very fitting pre-
at good weather and plenty of strong production Series One 80in (admittance
coffee it made for a good beginning. A was included with the entry fee to the
smooth four hours later we arrived and autojumble and rummage), before heading
pulling into the car park lead to the not Series One in the show/sale, rubbing back out through the beautiful New Forest
too difficult game of ‘spot the Land Rover’ shoulders with an E-Type scenery and back home.
among the classics and moderns. There
were some definite cuties among them, Minerva for sale
In all a thoroughly enjoyable day. a
including a Series One 86in Station Wagon
all the way from The Netherlands and, a Ingenious solution to the space restrictions
of a short-wheelbase
personal favourite to me, a Series III 88in
soft-top.
The rummage itself was located at the far
side of the autojumble, so a sedate amble
through it and the show/sale section lead
to the entrance. While the rummage was
smaller than in some previous years, it
did mean each seller had room to display
their wares and buyers weren’t tripping
over each other to see them. And what
‘What they lacked in
they lacked in number the sellers made up
for in quality of items, highlights being an
number the sellers
ex-Belgian Military Series One Minerva made up for in
brought all the way from its native
country, a 24v generator in distinctive quality of items’
26 SEPTEMBER 2018 www.classiclandrover.com
Jake Wright
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www.classiclandrover.com SEPTEMBER 2018 27
EVENTS AND RALLIES WORDS AND PICTURES LOUISE LIMB
King
The Series 2 Club North West Area learns about
working cotton mill engines and tea towels
That’s dedication; volunteer stoker loads
his ‘honest’ truck cab from Maghull, once
owned by a Welsh hill farmer and sporting
Cotton
Bancroft Mill’s restored and beautiful a painted home-made cover. Over from
Cornish Boiler on a very hot Sunday Germany on work experience in Blackpool,
young Cato Bohlens was in his element, his
fondness for Land Rovers indulged when he
found Jon and the Series 2 Club.
The sun must have prompted quite a few
car clubs to go out into the country as the
gathering was joined unexpectedly by the
Bramley (Leeds) Car Club in a variety of
classics. Neither of the clubs seemed phased
by this and once the assorted sporty numbers
A
s well as a chance to drive their were shoe-horned in, the car park felt more Jon Hayes’ Westmorland Fire Service
classic Land Rovers in convoy to like a ferry deck. Bancroft Mill Engine Trust fire engine views for attention with Jim
the Lancashire and Yorkshire border turned out to be justifiably popular. Gardiner’s sunshine yellow 6x6 tow truck
country around Barnoldswick, members of A guided tour enabled the club members
the North West Area of the Series 2 Club to take full advantage of the site and one Trip organiser John Cramphorn’s 101 GS is a fa-
were treated to a fascinating tour round the could only feel admiration for the volunteer miliar and largely original vehicle, Simon Maltby’s
distinctive Series IIA Forward Control likewise
working steam engines, boiler and loom at stoker cheerfully loading pallets into
Bancroft Mill, once part of a thriving cotton the hell-fire of the Cornish Boiler when
industry in the town: at one time there were the temperature outside was pushing 30
13 working cotton mills in Barnoldswick. degrees.
Part of a regular calendar of interesting With a volunteer guide to explain every
events co-ordinated by regional rep and aspect of the massive 600bhp, 16ft diameter
one-time Series 2 Club chairman Jon
Hayes, this excursion, on one of the
sunniest Sundays of the year, saw 13 ‘Jim Gardiner
Land Rovers line up in the mill’s bijou car
park, including Simon Maltby’s Series IIA brought his freshly fly-wheel, steam-powered mill engine and
Forward Control and outing organiser John
Cramphorn’s 101 GS, both familiar vehicles fettled, six-wheeled, a demonstration of the jacquard loom and
bobbin winder, the museum is an excellent
at Land Rover gatherings.
Jim Gardiner brought his freshly fettled,
twin snorkel- resource and a worthwhile destination.
You can even buy the tea towels made on
six-wheeled, twin snorkel-equipped beast of a
breakdown truck, as dazzlingly yellow as the
equipped beast of a the loom!
Find out more at www.bancroftmill.org.
sun was hot, while Les Georgeson had driven breakdown truck’ uk. a
28 SEPTEMBER 2018 www.classiclandrover.com
HANDCRAFTED IN SCOTLAND
Headliners Insulation
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M a d e f r o m m o d e r n e qu i v a l e n t a l u m i n i u m a l l o y
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series aluminium. Spot welded as per original
Down On
The Farm
An ambulance in desert colours. Vehicle owners here go to town
with their displays showing their vehicles off as they would have
been used by the military
Vicky Turner
reports on
Capel Military
Vehicle Show
I
t is unusual for a military vehicle show This 1976 101 has been lovingly restored
to feature such an impressive line-up of over a number of years. It is now in tiptop
rare and fantastic Land Rovers - many original condition and exhibiting its military
these days limit the numbers on display purpose as a mortar truck
so as not to be overwhelmed by them, but
Capel, held annually in July at Aldhurst on a farm by volunteers who do it to raise
Farm in Capel, Surrey is the exception. money for good causes, many in aid of
It is certainly worth considering showing veterans’ charities. There are lots of things
your vehicle there next year if you own a This Wolf is hiding between Ferrets to see and do from the funfair for the kids,
model with a services history as you will be mock battles with German vehicles against
An ex-British Army Series III bomb disposal
made very welcome. There’s a fine selection truck complete with a fascinating collection
the Allies, loud bangs and pyrotechnics and
of varied dioramas and living history of bombs and shell cases a Chinook flyby.
displays that include these stalwarts of the This year the vehicles included vintage
British forces. tractors as well as Scammell Pioneers, a
It is a small and friendly show organised Foden recovery truck and a Ward Lafrance
wrecker. The arena played host to among
other things a running Russian T-34, OT90
It is a small and and a Sherman. There are a few trade stands
offering parts, food, vintage clothing and
friendly show militaria but it is a show mostly about
having fun while learning about history
organised on a and the vehicles, with live entertainment
farm by volunteers and dance lessons in the evening to round
everything off nicely. a
30 SEPTEMBER 2018 www.classiclandrover.com
WORDS AND PICTURES CRAIG ALLEN EVENTS AND RALLIES
North of
the Border
Craig Allen was at
the Scottish Transport
Extravaganza in the Ex-Royal Navy Series IIA dive support vehicle
grounds of historic
Glamis Castle
T
his event is now in its 44th year and A very original Series IIA Fire Tender on
from small beginnings has grown display
into one of the largest gatherings of
classic vehicles in Scotland with a record There were more Series Ones on display at
breaking 1,600 exhibits in attendance the Tay 4x4 Off-road Club but these examples Wolf XD Ambulance decommissioned and
including some from 1890. were a little less shiny and obviously saw re-vamped as a mobile coffee wagon
Organised and run by the Strathmore some serious use. More Land Rovers were
Vintage Vehicle Club (SVVC) it always to be seen in the military section with Popular when in service for their powerful V8
includes a strong showing from Land Rover an interesting Series IIA Station Wagon engines many have been retrofitted with Tdis
enthusiasts. It also boasts an impressive originally in Royal Navy hands - possibly as for economy and with a hard back fitted they
array of classic vehicles from all eras and a support vehicle for clearance divers. make a very capable overland truck.
with its numerous stalls and food outlets The more recent Wolf XD types are starting At the lower end of the display ground
makes for a great family day out. to filter through to civilian hands and I there was a nice line up of Series models
My wife Cathy and I once again made a spotted two ambulance-bodied examples from a restored rolling chassis to pristine
weekend of it camping out in our roof tent one converted to a camper and another in examples of Series IIs and IIAs. As always
for the first time this season. use as a mobile coffee shop. There was also they were a credit to the effort put in by
After exploring the various traders looking a nice canvas backed 90 of 1980s vintage on the owners to get them to this condition
for bargains I found myself at the Series the military stand. I remember having one and the weekend at Glamis offers a great
One Club stand in conversation with David of these as a daily driver and range wagon opportunity to display them. All praise
Cockburn. He had brought his early 80in when I was still serving. must go to the SVVC for establishing and
which he has owned for 25 years and Another familiar Land Rover model from continuing to run this event which this
restored himself. Impressively it boasts only my past was the FC101 or ‘one tonney’. There year saw impressive numbers attending and
one previous owner a doctor from Strathdon were a number on display and I saw one enjoying the experience in glorious summer
who used it as his winter car. being used as a camper van by a stall holder. weather. a
www.classiclandrover.com SEPTEMBER 2018 31
EVENTS AND RALLIES
Love Island
Fun with friends and old Land Rovers, John Carroll had
a great weekend on Anglesey with the Land Rover Series One Club
Saturday dawned sunny and bright and, in families. Our little group just opted to drive JC was pleased to see another Marine Blue 80in
a holiday frame of mind, we lingered over about in the sunshine so we went to Moelfre
breakfast before joining in with scheduled for a beer and an ice cream sitting in the
activities including using Series Ones to sunshine and gossiped like the old mates we
create a huge outline of a Land Rover on are. We went to the other side of Red Wharf
the hallowed sands of Red Wharf Bay. To be Bay on the way back to the campsite and,
honest, there was a lot of hanging around as we waved to other Land Rover drivers,
while this happened and lots of people in marvelled at how just many Series Ones
hi-viz jackets milling about. The relaxed were to be seen on the island’s roads.
format of the weekend and the friendly There were in excess of 400 registered for
nature of the attendees meant no one cared; the event which is why the club opted for
strangers struck up conversations and took a Guinness Book of Records attempt for
photos of each other’s Land Rovers. the largest gathering of Series Ones which
The organisers had prepared information we joined in with - we weren’t the last into
and maps that allowed participants to go the line-up but our tickets were numbered
and see the places associated with the Wilks above 300. At the time of writing, Weller 8-spokes are a nice ‘70s accessory
Contacts
Tacla Taid Transport Museum
The collection includes some Land Rovers
and all sorts of other fascinating things.
Glamping in a Leyland Hippo and a
101 is possible too
http://angleseytransportmuseum.co.uk
They did not participate in the vehicle parade at the Jubilé de Platine as they
knew they had a long journey home, so they parked up and just enjoyed the event
A
the Jubilé de Platiné in Forward
Controls
French Flutter
38 SEPTEMBER 2018 www.classiclandrover.com
Proudly flying both the Tricolore and the Union Flag at the Jubilé. The grey
Forward Control looks fabulous under the breaking clouds
S
imon Vignt and Julien Grados have
been friends for years, they met
at college where they were both
studying motor mechanics and they shared
an interest in British vehicles. They have
remained close in the decade since they
qualified and are occasionally known to
have a drink and come up with silly ideas.
At the beginning of 2017 they had a small
wager; that they would both try get to the
When he bought it, it had no brakes or
steering, had not been started for a few
Jubilé De Platiné in Thaumiers, central
years, had no front shock absorbers and France, in April 2018, to join 600 other
was lacking brake drums French Land Rover enthusiasts as they
Simon, left, with his father Thierry, right, on
celebrated the marques 70th birthday - in
the day the deal for the Series IIB was struck
Forward Controls.
When hands were shaken, the celebration
was less than a year away; Simon had 1970 Series IIB 110 2,286cc diesel LHD
access to his father’s Forward Control, Forward Control in 2004 from a beekeeper
although it hadn’t run for some time having and honey maker who, as he had aged,
been sitting idle in a barn for a decade but found that the flatbed had become too high
Julien didn’t have one and finding one for him to easily load it with the hives.
would be difficult as they are very rare Back then the Forward Control had had a
in France. little TLC in order to get it through technical
This truck was once owned by a beekeeper
and honey maker but he found the truck
But a bet is a bet and reputations were control, the French equivalent of the British
bed too high for comfortably moving hives at stake. MoT, and it had been used for a couple of
around when he got older Simon’s father Thierry had bought his years by the family as a useful workhorse
The Forward
Control
The concept of the Forward Control grew
out of increased demand in the 1950s for
greater load carrying capacity. Based on
the 109in chassis, by 1962 designers had
placed the cab over the top of the engine
with a new rear sub-frame - this increased
the loadspace and gave it a carrying rate
of 30cwt on-road and 25cwt off. It had
heavy-duty axles and larger tyres to give
it greater ground clearance but proved an
economic design requiring only minimal
new parts to be manufactured. Initially the
2,286cc engine was used but as the vehicle
was heavier than other models that used
this engine, the result was rather poor,
underpowered performance. In 1966, the
Series IIB Forward Control came on line
with the option of having a 2,286cc diesel
engine - exports could have a 2,600cc
petrol engine. The other changes the
redesign instigated was a wheelbase that
was longer by an inch and the wheel tracks
by four, the rears springs were revised and
it was fitted with a front anti-roll bar, its
head lamps were lowered and the side
lights raised.
Forward Control manufacturing ended in
1974 when the vehicle range was revised,
Is successor was the 101, although that
was never intended for the civilian market
a full overhaul which included servicing a little creativity, they managed to get
and replacing all the brakes, ball joints everything done and the 600km road trip
and the steering box, hubs, bearings, the to Thaumiers was completed in 14 hours
dynamo, the regulator, the belt, the seats, without any problems.
floor and the rear tub. Julien had a slightly more difficult task
The most difficult aspect of the build was ahead of him to meet the terms of the
sourcing the parts as there are certain bits challenge, but as with a lot in life it’s as
that are specific to the Forward Control much who you know as what you know. He
and not readily found in the UK, let alone made contact with a friend, Sebastien Conte,
in France. However, with persistence and to whom Julien feels he owes a debt of
‘The most
difficult aspect
of the build
was sourcing
the parts’ This 101 was chosen to enter the Concourse de
Elegance at the French Land Rover 70th Birthday
Bash - it came away with 3rd prize
The boys loved every minute of the Jubilé party and are rightly proud
of their achievement to get themselves and both these vehicles there
Features include:
RE
in the history of Land Rovers and need to
be preserved.
Islands Dream
DU
Paul Bracey’s Ninety was used in the
1986 Camel Trophy. It has seen more life
than most Land Rovers but is still going
strong.
D!
Rover.
Happy Anniversary
Changing times at Land Rover led to
the production of the 40th anniversary
Ninety, the first in a sequence of
anniversary models.
Means of Survival
It takes a special type of Defender to cope
with the inhospitable Icelandic winter.
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WORKSHOP
D
uring a number of month-long visits modification wishes. At the time of my
to Sri Lanka I realised that it is very visit, there were examples in the workshop
much a four-wheel drive place, with older vehicles being repaired, rebuilds from
many miles of dirt roads and national parks. the chassis up and those having the latest
The parks are popular both with Sri Lankans comfort-making gizmos added.
going off-road at weekends, and the large The purist Series collector will probably
number of tourists who come on holiday. tear his hair out at what is done here, but two
So Land Rovers both old and new are in Forward Controls look pretty standard at first
use, including many Series models. I visited glance – although one can never be sure.
a number of people involved in keeping The first of these is 24-2761 which was
Land Rovers on the road including Indhika bought from the Sri Lanka navy around
Sanjaya the managing director of LR Motors 2011. It has a 300 Tdi engine, and apart
in Colombo. from the double coils on the rear, the
Indhika told me how he was a great suspension is said to be to the original
off-road enthusiast and how his firm keeps specification. Note the twin electric fans
old and new Land Rovers on the road, as behind the radiator grille; the tubular
Suitably proud well as making modifications to satisfy the winch bumper and the front winch. Also
workshop man dreams of upmarket owners. the roll-down wind and rain protection on
Candimal Ahan ager Kokila
gama smiles fo LR Motors is active in obtaining Land the driver’s and passenger’s doors; plus the
While colleague r the camera.
Ruchira Warna Rover parts from overseas, such is the snorkel, and the roof rack above the cab. In
rests his arms Botheju
on the left wing demand for either replacement items the rear section, the high-backed forward-
of a Defender
or those needed to satisfy customers’ facing seats for those on safaris can be seen
A general
view of th
‘The purist Series departmen
roofing is
t. The wh
e outdoor
ite vehicle
spares
an ambula under the
collector will tear nce-bodie
d Land Ro
blue
ver
his hair out at
what is done here’
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Weekly magazine Flight International’s
retail sales trailer was towed by a Series
Two 109in hard-top with an unusual roof
extension. It is seen here at the Shackleton
weekend at Sywell aerodrome on April 13,
1962 (Key archive)
NOSTALGIA
Loyalty
WORDS AND PICTURES BOB BOAGEY
KNS en route to eastern side of Lake Turkana. Split rims and inner tubes were invaluable on these roads
On the way to Scotland. Fuel costs prevented The Series IIA which started brand loyalty in mid-winter 1965. The Visitor from U
the blue rear door being re-painted border collie normally travelled in the back, but took every opportunity A1 in Northum
to be nearer to the heater
W
hat has proved to be a long- in 1968, and I set off to become a civil
term relationship with Land engineer.
Rovers began in late 1961 when In 1972 I joined-in the tail-end of the
my father brought home a brand-new, ‘motorway building boom’; becoming a
company-supplied Series IIA SWB – blue graduate engineer with John Mowlem Civil
with a cream hard-top, and a “rattly Engineering, on a large urban motorway
engine”. Dad worked for a local building west of Gateshead in County Durham. The
company and he used the Land Rover for main task for newly-minted graduates on
many years travelling between building site in those days was ‘setting-out’ – which
sites, some of which were in the North meant many hours out on site using survey
Yorkshire Moors. The owner of the building equipment. I vividly remember being given
company used to reclaim the Land Rover the keys for a bright orange Series III SWB,
several times each year for caravanning by my section manager, who asked if I
trips to “The Continent”, which explains the thought I could drive a Land Rover. We set
large mirror on the passenger side. off and found that some of the site was a
The Land Rover was a revelation to an quagmire: I enjoyed myself and he decided
11-year-old: it had a heater (with some that I could indeed drive a Land Rover.
form of demisting arrangement), windscreen In 1972 my wife Hilary and I decided
wipers that worked at any engine speed, to take up camping as a means of taking
and a commanding passenger position holidays, since we didn’t have enough spare
which gave astonishing visibility. As the money for ‘proper accommodation’. We
‘Less than 20 winter of 61-62 set-in, it snowed, and then
snowed some more, and the mystery of the
stretched our finances and bought a 1967
LWB truck cab. We had a hard-top fitted,
metres along the yellow and red-topped levers was explained. which further stretched our finances, and
Winters were harsh in north-east England in made our first long trip around Scotland.
track we gently those years and the run-up to the infamous The LWB was a fine vehicle for camping;
winter of ’63 was no exception. There were when it was really wet we stored our gear
slid sideways many trips after heavy snowfalls when the in the tent and slept in the back. Brand
into the ditch Land Rover was one of few vehicles making
any real progress and so, brand loyalty
loyalty grew stronger.
The LWB was also the key to weekend
and stopped’ began to form.
A school friend’s parents had a small farm
trips into the wilds of Northumberland and
it was put to the test in snow, slush and ice
somewhere in North Yorkshire, long before on many occasions. But in October 1973
hobby-farms were commonplace, and his the Yom Kippur War between Egypt and
UK comparing his commute on father had what must have been an early Syria and Israel broke out. As a result of
umberland with a desert trek ‘50s Series One - perhaps ex-military - the conflict, OPEC countries increased the
dedicated to carrying sheep feed around the price of oil fourfold, inflation in UK reached
fields. I seem to recall that it was not road- 24% and petrol for our LWB became a real
registered, had no roof and usually had the problem.
windscreen folded flat. It was the perfect Brand loyalty wavered, economic reality
vehicle for a bunch of 13-year-olds who hit home, and so the LWB was advertised
were keen on instructing each other ‘how for sale. We were deeply pessimistic about
to drive’ during weekend visits to the farm. the prospects of selling it, and my section
Young people were allowed to take greater manager on the motorway project joked for
risks in those days, the Land Rover and many weeks: “For sale – LWB Land Rover.
sheep survived and the unruly schoolboys Good condition. Only used for trips to
had fun getting early driving and off-road filling stations”.
experience. In February 1976 I saw an advertisement
My secondary education was completed for civil engineers in East Africa and in
help was generally readily available, we warmer water and therefore stayed well off-
were more cautious about the likes of the shore. I was never sure about that.
Turkana District and always went to such After many days of those dry, dusty
remote areas with at least one other vehicle. conditions, we reached Mount Marsabit, and
One memorable and eventful trip, over the decided that a few days in this well-forested
Christmas holidays, was with friends who National Park was needed. So, we set up
had a Peugeot 404 ‘pick-up’. These 404s in Public Campground No 1 at the end of a
were legendary in Kenya: high ground dirt track and downhill of the access road,
clearance, comfortable, and would go and then listened to heavy rain for most of
almost anywhere that a Land Rover could the night.
go – until it rained. In the morning it looked like more rain
Our route took us around the southern end was about to arrive and we decided to move
and along the eastern side of Lake Turkana, on. This was a good idea in principle, but
and then across the Chalbi Desert, all of in reality KNS and I simply couldn’t cope
Steam engine, Cherangani Hills, NW Kenya
which was dry and dusty. We crossed lava with the greasy mud of the track. Less
fields, salt pans, dry river beds and spent than 20 metres along the track we gently
a few nights over new year camped on the slid sideways into the ditch and stopped.
shore of the lake, which was then home Within 20 minutes a group of wonderfully
to the largest population of Nile crocodile friendly and helpful locals had arrived and
in Africa. Local folklore had it that it was explained that they knew exactly how to
safe to swim in the shallows during the help. It took most of the morning to get
day because the crocodiles didn’t like the back to the access road – KNS relied on
branches hacked from trees and strewn
on the mud, and some pushing. The 404
One of the last camping trips in Kenya - KNS
needed more branches, lots of pushing and
had just been reluctantly put on the market some towing. The locals also explained
that we should have gone to Public
Campground No 2 which was uphill of the
access road. They were paid for their efforts
and local knowledge in beer and cash. So,
we re-established camp at the second site,
the cloud lifted and the ground dried very
quickly. Brand loyalty was in reasonable
fettle, but I did wonder why a Land Rover
could not be as comfortable as a 404.
The next trip to Lake Turkana was
with friends visiting from the UK, and
a colleague generously loaned them his
recently acquired Series II truck cab. I had
some misgivings about this – it had been
freshly painted, but not much else looked
refurbished. There were lots of rattles and
overall it didn’t impress me. Anyway, it
completed the trip after only a puncture and
a welding repair on the exhaust system.
On one of our last day trips in the Kitale
area we chanced upon a 1928 Ransome,
Sims & Jefferies stationary steam engine
at the roadside. After intense negotiations
One of our first trips to Lake Turkana, once known as Lake Rudolph and also referred to as the Jade with the headman (‘chief’) of the local
Sea. The palm fronds made a very effective causeway across soft sand village, I had a receipt for a few hundred
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SERIES III
I
’ve been interested in Land Rovers for of fake ads, overpriced and badly restored
as long as I can remember but didn’t Defenders and Series Land Rovers with
own one until my wife found a decent dubious identities.
Discovery 3 for sale a few years ago. Eventually I found Alfred lurking on a
Owning the Discovery and taking it off the quiet forum. I originally dismissed it due to
beaten track at weekends made me want to it being a long wheelbase and a Series III.
get a Defender or Series IIA and this feeling However, the more I looked at it, the more I
was galvanised when my son bought an thought that it was what I needed. A Series
ex-MOD One Ten when he turned 18. I III would be more practical for running
couldn’t wait any longer, the search was on. daily (decent Defenders were already out
I had always wanted a short wheelbase of my price range). Alfred already had a
and I wanted a soft top. Whatever I got had 200/300Tdi hybrid engine, a galvanised
to be practical enough for me to use daily chassis and parabolic springs and was
to get to work and to cart the family about known in leafer circles.
if needed. I spent what seemed like months An exchange of emails with the owner
trawling eBay, forums and local selling sites followed and a deal was struck. Now I
but was faced with the all too familiar story had to figure out how to collect it? I live
before midnight.
Alfred has had quite a varied past from
what I can tell. It lived in the Netherlands
between 2008 and 2013. During this
time, it made several visits to the UK to
meet up with other leafers and even went
on tour to the Swiss Alps. Originally
being a Marine Blue diesel hard top with
side windows, its Dutch owner painted it
green and fitted a FFR soft top. The old
and presumably original 2,286cc diesel
was replaced with a NA 2,500cc diesel in
2010. However this was already showing
its age by the Switzerland trip in 2011
and so was replaced with the current
200/300TDi hybrid during a trip back to the
UK in Easter 2012. It came back to the UK
permanently in 2013 thanks to a change in
historic tax rules in the Netherlands but sat
in a shed for seven months while waiting
for DVLA paperwork to be sorted. After re-
registration in the UK was sorted it was off
to Somerset for the next four years where it
was pressed into service as a daily driver for
an electrical engineer.
The journey home to Orkney proved to be a
good shakedown and gave me time to think
about and plan what needed to be done to
turn Alfred into both a practical commuting
and family car as well as something I could
PANTHERS IN DISGUISE
In 1944 Hitler orchestrated an
elaborate plan to fool the Allies by
‘faking’ British and American tanks
U S
J 60 T FITTED FOR RADIO
£4.
Charlie Stemp explains how a group of
electrical engineers worked out how to
convert Land Rovers from 12 to 24v
AND MUCH MORE!
Available monthly from and other leading newsagents
The
Town Car This Land Rover has been owned by the same family
from new and is unrestored and in incredible condition.
B
lack soil is ubiquitous in central New
South Wales and Queensland. It is
a fertile clay base that is excellent
for farming. With Australia’s extremes in
climate it tends to dry and crack in summer,
but when it receives even just a little rain
will turn into a glutinous, sticky morass
that can trap animals and vehicles alike.
Travelling anywhere through the black soil
plains after rain is a near impossibility,
unless you have a four-wheel drive vehicle,
that is. Even then, getting about is slow and
difficult and only to be done if absolutely
necessary. Usually it’s better to wait a couple
of days for the soil to start to dry out again.
Even today, many of the roads in this part
of the country are unsealed and the age-old
problems remain, but farmers are spoilt with Peter Colwell never thought his old wet
weather town car would ever be considered a
their choice of vehicles. Back in the 1960s
classic, but today wouldn’t restore it or sell it
and 1970s the only vehicle of choice in the
– it’s part of the family
outback was a Land Rover and without one
in the wet you didn’t go anywhere.
Australian farmers took to the Land Rover
in their droves and Land Rover dealerships
sprung up in the least likely of places. For
Peter Colwell and his family, it was at the
nearest town, Coonamble, and the dealership
was Laing and Glover: Auto Engineers;
agents for Land Rover, Honda and VW. As
an aside, prior to 1974 the business was
owned by Grenville Motors in Sydney, the
Land Rover importers until that role was
taken over directly by Leyland Australia,
and today still remains at the same location,
selling Honda motorcycles and farm
equipment, now named K&H Glover.
“We lived on a farm on a black soil plain,
about 30 miles from the nearest bitumen
and the road was totally impassable when it
was wet,” recalled Peter. “Dad had a Fiat 132
at the time, and a Series One Land Rover
that was a farm vehicle. You’d use the farm
vehicle if you were desperate, but it wasn’t
really the answer, so on July 2, 1974 dad
bought a Series III as his wet-weather car.” The farm was run as a family business around 35mm to 40mm although the
As farmers, the vehicle was sales tax and the Land Rover became the sole summer months, particularly January and
exempt and cost $3,540. But as it was to be responsibility of Peter, as he explained. “Dad February, average almost double that. It is
their town car, they opted for a hard top, didn’t drive it at all, in fact I’m the only not uncommon that you will get the whole
which cost a further $200. Add in delivery person that’s ever driven it.” month’s rain in one day, and when that
($60), registration ($8 for goods carrying), Though Australia’s a dry continent, happens the dirt roads become impassable to
compulsory third party insurance ($12.15), Coonamble is a temperate area with everything, even a capable 4x4.
a tax levy ($20), weight tax ($21.50) and reasonable rainfall and good farming It’s not surprising, then, that this Land
stamp duty ($20) and it came to a grand conditions. It gets an average of 60 days Rover didn’t get a great deal of use. Today
total of $3,881.65. of rain a year, and each month averages the total odometer reading is less than
‘Though Australia’s
a dry continent
Coonamble is a
temperate area with
reasonable rainfall’
We also attended the famous Henley-on-
Todd regatta, where teams race boats with
The vehicle still has all its original Australian-
no bottoms, running along the dry sandy
made glass, dated 1974
riverbed. In Alice we also changed the oil on
the Land Rover, which had so far covered
4,900km.”
From Alice Springs it was about 530km
(330 miles) north to Three Ways, along the
sealed Stuart Hwy, then 640km (400 miles)
This 1974 Series III has been in the same east to Mt Isa, camping at a number of
family since new, has only ever had one driver, places along the way.
has done only 44,000km and is in remarkable, “We arrived in Cloncurry in the middle
unrestored condition
of a raging thunderstorm, and we were
forced into a motel for the night: which
cost $19.50 – a shattering blow to our
budget. The next morning we hit the black
mud. Progress was agonisingly slow, but
steady. My experience with these conditions
enabled us to get through without too
much difficulty, although our average
speed dropped to only a few miles per hour.
Staying on top of the road was critical. Our
fuel consumption dropped to 16mpg. The
road dried out as we headed south and we
eventually sought refuge for the night in the
Longreach caravan park.
Over the whole trip, the Land Rover
consumed fuel at an average of 21.2mpg.
We had no mechanical issues, and no
flat tyres – despite the rough roads. We
meticulously shared the expenses and
Agricultural tow hitch bought our own food, which Patrice
cooked – there was no fast-food back
then. Our all-up costs, including fuel, food,
accommodation, entry fees to National
Parks – literally everything – was $234, or
$78 per person.
“Dad died about seven years after we
bought the Land Rover,” Peter explained.
“We continued to run the farm for a long
time afterwards and the Land Rover pretty
much had the same duty, to be the town
vehicle if it was wet, because that was the
Fuel filler cap Support for the upper tailgate only vehicle we could use to get out.
Original tool roll and original tools have had very little use
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OUR LAND ROVERS
A
fter almost 25 years of reading been met. Or so I thought anyway. a chat about it. “It’s a touch thirsty”, he
about them, looking at them and It was out of the blue really. A whatsapp says. Cue protracted discussion about
eventually driving them, the novelty message from my friend Nick, known just what a two-litre petrol side-valve
had worn off a bit. I was over-familiar for running the @landroverphotoalbum engine should be getting.
with Land Rovers. I’d done countless miles Instagram page landed. He told me he had Billing was serious heat, expensive
green-laning and road touring, not to borrowed Oxford from Adam Bennett, to burgers and warm cans of pop, but it was
mention hundreds of hours at work driving do some filming and stills shooting at a
them. Who knows how many shows I had private steam railway not far from my Oxford and Dan’s 110
been to over the years, how many books, home. Would I be interested in joining
magazines and models bought. Other him? It sounded like a good excuse to get
things had got in the way. Life had moved out of the house for a while.
on. Travelling, socialising, music, and On the Saturday before this event was
buying a house had come to the forefront. the world record attempt at Billing.
I had my projects slowly progressing, as “Come along” said Nick, “It’ll be fun”.
well as two vehicles on the road, but my Billing wasn’t too far so I went in my
focus was elsewhere. Land Rovers were 110. Nick already had Oxford then. I had
now slightly peripheral, time to worry seen the car before but not close up, and
about them would be when other goals had not in detail. I found Nick and we had
19 AUGUST 2018
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• Modern PSVs and industry suppliers
• Free bus rides around the British Motor
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CLASSIC CAMPING
When Craig Allen wanted a tent he went for a vintage classic
WORDS AND PICTURES CRAIG ALLEN
The perfect companion to your Land Rover minutes to pitch and it looked the part
with the new green flysheet. It did require
a few more pegs than a modern tunnel tent
but the alloy ones supplied were robust
enough and did the job.
One change from the older models is
the wrap around zip design for the inner
but this works well. Meanwhile, although
described as a two-man tent I would say
the Mk3 is more practical for one and the
larger Mk4 version would be a better bet
for two.
Once pitched however it was very stable
and I had no doubt would stand up to the
worst of the Highland weather.
The next night found me wild camping at
The components of the tent the mouth of the Corrieyairack Pass near
laid out before pitching Laggan - so more of a test for the tent. It
rained heavily that night but I remained
‘What was most snug and dry inside and the nylon flysheet
was easily shaken out next morning before
impressive was the stowing in the land Rover.
So, overall I would say this first outing
heavy duty sewn-in for the tent was a great success. It may
be an old design but it is well proven
groundsheet’ and the quality of the materials speak for
themselves.
wouldn’t be an issue in the back of my A secondhand version makes a cheap
Land Rover. I decided to pitch it in the option and can be easily refurbished with
drive and was pleased with how easily it new parts. You can also buy a brand new
all went together. model although sadly global economics
A-frame first then the cotton inner and means they are no longer manufactured
I
was looking around recently for a flysheet. I couldn’t peg it out but putting in this country. Either way you will be
good tent for car camping, something it up was a doddle and I didn’t anticipate getting a time-proven and practical design
robust enough to cope with the Scottish any issues in the field. that hopefully won’t let you down and will
weather and in character with my Land What struck me was the quality of last a long time. My own tent now has a
Rover. After searching the various internet the materials, good solid shock-corded permanent home in the back of the Land
sites I came across some surplus military alloy poles and DWR cotton protex for Rover and will be getting plenty of use on
Force Ten tents which got me thinking.
The Vango Force Ten has been around
the flysheet and inner. What was most
impressive was the heavy duty sewn-in
future camping trips. a
in various forms since the 1960s and is in groundsheet - a welcome change from the Time for
every sense a classic. They were quickly paper thin variety found on most modern a ‘selfie’
up camp having se
for the n t
taken up for expedition use back in the tents requiring a separate ‘footprint’. The ight
day and have been a favourite with youth traditional ‘day-glow’ orange colour was
groups and the military ever since. another matter and I quickly ordered
In the 1970s they were even used by a green nylon flysheet from Blacks
Chris Bonington on a couple of Everest of Greenock.
Expeditions, surely a testament to their I prefer my tents to blend in more with
inherent toughness and quality? In fact I’m the landscape. In fact getting replacement
pretty sure I spent a couple of nights in one parts is easy as Scottish-based company
as a teenager on an expedition to the Dales Vango still make these tents and all the
with the Army Youth Team. accessories are readily available. So now
The question was, with so many modern I had my tent all I needed was a chance
geodesic and tunnel tents available, could to try it out.
a 40-year-old design still cut the mustard? A trip to the highlands to research
There was only one way to find out and after the old military roads was the perfect
trawling the internet I came across a nearly opportunity to put the tent to the test
new Mk3 version and put in a successful bid. and it went into the back of the 90
First impressions on its arrival were along with the rest of my gear. The
good, it came in a smart orange stuff sack results of the first night spent at the
and was as the buyer had posted in ‘almost Red Squirrel campsite in Glencoe
new’ condition. At 7.10 kg it felt heavier were very positive. Despite stopping to
than a similar-size modern design but this take pictures it only took around ten
SPLITTING LOGS
Chris Mortimer decided he wanted to utilise his PTO by running
a log splitter from his Series II
Series II club hi
nge
W
hen I go to a vintage rally or a new; find the PTO
show of a similar nature, I always that bolts to the back
get attracted to those exhibits that of the gearbox where
are working, doing something, as opposed the overdrive lives
to being lined up like a row of soldiers. It and then join the
was after I visited a rally where an owner two PTOs together
was using his old tractor to power a rear with a prop shaft.
mounted PTO-driven log splitter, the My problem was
corkscrew type, it got me thinking about that I have an
how to use my 1962 SWB Oskar to provide overdrive and I
a similar type of display. wasn’t going to
At this time, I had recently rebuilt and give that up in a
fitted a bottom PTO which came with a hurry. Another
Dowty hydraulic pump. The plan was to problem was that
find and install the oil tank, pipework and the levers and
valves and use this to drive a yet-to-be- linkages Land
built homemade log splitter, the type that Rover provide
pushes a blade down the length of the log. with the bottom
Thoughts now turned to driving a PTO assume you don’t have an overdrive
corkscrew-type log splitter using a six- in place as they cut right across the rear surprisingly well and in the end was simple
spline prop out of the back of the Land gearbox/overdrive cover plate. to fabricate.
Rover to provide the power, more parts to After a bit of head scratching and a few Now I had an operational bottom PTO, I
see moving than a hydraulic driven blade. false starts, a new one-piece lever was eventually bought the mechanical output
If you want to add a rear PTO, the type that made that pivots off one of the bottom PTO for the bottom PTO to drive in place
bolts to the rear crossmember, you have PTO securing nuts allowing the engaging of the Dowty pump and also the rear
to first of all find a PTO that doesn’t cost lever to come out the passenger side of the crossmember PTO was found. All were
more than the Land Rover did when it was seat box as originally designed. It works stripped, cleaned and rebuilt. The number
‘It weighs a ton The rear PTO is bolted to the rear crossmember along with the homemade extended towing bracket
and rear step. The PTO spline cover was also fabricated, trying to find one was harder than finding the
but at least it won’t PTO, in the end I made it using photos as a reference to obtain the shape and dimensions
collapse into a
twisted pile when
the first log is loaded
onto it’
of attached PTOs is increasing - including
the factory-fitted front capstan we are now
up to five!
The observant among you would have
worked out that the bottom PTO rotates
clockwise whereas the PTO used in place of
the overdrive rotates anticlockwise. This
means that the six-spline output prop will
rotate in the ‘wrong’ direction.
While this is true, it does depend what
you want to drive. If the drum pulley PTO
were to be bolted to the rear PTO and was
used to drive a saw bench via a flat belt
then you could twist the belt into a figure
of eight to correct the rotation issue. For
me it wasn’t a problem as you can buy
clockwise and anticlockwise screw splitters.
The last remaining part of the jigsaw was
the prop between the bottom PTO and the
rear PTO. It’s not possible to run a single
straight prop between the two, the axle
and exhaust gets in the way. A jointed
prop was needed and this had to be made,
Land Rover didn’t produce a prop for this
situation.
Using a number of 30cm long cardboard
postal tubes and some MDF-made UJs Cardboard tubes and MDF UJs were made to work out the length of the two-part prop. The prop
I was able to mock up the desired prop. is bolted to the mechanical drive PTO which in turn is bolted to the bottom PTO or ‘belly’ PTO as
Consideration of the angle from the bottom some people call them. The prop middle support bearing is bolted to the tub just forward of the
PTO to the joint had to be taken into rear axle
account - the smaller the angle the better
- and also where to fix the middle support
bracket along with its bearing. Armed with
my ‘here’s one I made earlier’ Blue Peter
prop I popped along to Bailey Morris Ltd
at St Neots who quickly made a ‘proper’
version. They kept my cardboard creation,
they said it made a change to the ‘back
of fag packet’ drawings they sometimes
get given.
With the drive now sorted my attention
turned to what to drive. Having looked
around the internet for a ready-made
splitter bench I soon realised that what I
was after just doesn’t exist. I didn’t want
to go the route of buying another trailer
with the splitter permanently fixed to it.
I wanted something that was relatively
portable, can be broken down into a small
number of components and loaded into the
back of an 88in without too much hassle.
I’d also thought that maybe the same drive
mechanism could not only drive the splitter
but also a saw blade, the same size as the
ones used on saw benches that hang off
the back of tractors - 700mm. Being able
to swap would give me extra functionality
from the same drive.
After a few weeks of drawing up ideas,
what I ended up making was a steel
framed two-legged table that attaches to
the tailgate hinge brackets on the rear
crossmember for stability. A short six-
spline PTO joins the rear PTO to the lower
pulley wheel. Directly above this pulley is
to the
overdrive and up
se en runn ing underneath the g bolts. The lever is
lever can just be e of the PTO fixin
PT O op erating that bo lts to on
Bottom on a bracket
base. It pivots ed in the middle
passenger seat piece of flat bar steel pivot
shap ed
essentially a ‘Z’
‘What I ended
up making
was a steel
framed two-
legged table
that attaches
to the tailgate
hinge bracket’
an equally sized pulley which runs on the screw cutter and its extension plate are first
output drive shaft. removed. In its place an extension to the
A loose fitting V-belt joins the two drive shaft is attached and on the end of
pulleys and a simple clutch was made this is the 700mm blade, fixed by a single
to provide variable tension to the belt bolt that has locking wire through it to stop
allowing control of the top pulley’s drive. it unthreading.
Protruding out of the clutch handle there A steel blade guard is then bolted to the
is a bolt that engages into a saw tooth cut top of the table. On one side of the table a
steel block. This allows me to have drive to rocking table is attached. It’s like the old
the drive shaft without needing to have one tractor three-point linkage table saws used,
hand on the clutch lever. a platform where you could put the log on
On the end of the top drive shaft the to and then rock the platform forwards to
screw cutter is attached using a keyway cut the log, rock it back, reload with a new
and a grub screw. To provide extra table log and so forth.
space an extension plate can be added. To stop the platform falling backwards
To convert the table into a saw bench the when not in use a bent round bar connects
Plasma-cut embellishments on
the guard and the steel initials of
our boys welded onto the frame
add that touch of personalisation
to the project
OZTENT RV2
Price: £4500
OCTOBER ISSUE
work. New sills, brake pipes and
footwells repaired.
Spare doors included.
Tel: 07754 200535 or
COPY DEADLINE: TUESDAY 14TH AUGUST
Price: £4000 Email: Stevemingham@btinternet.com
County: St Helens
Tel: 07402 975798
ON-SALE: WEDNESDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER
DIFFICULTY RATING:
TECH AND
TOOLBOX TIME ALLOWED: FIVE DAYS
COST: N/A
Part 3 of Matt Savage’s project to fit an old VW engine into his Series One
WORDS AND PHOTOS TOBY SAVAGE ADDITIONAL MATERIAL MATT SAVAGE
O
nce the chassis welding was finished gearbox could continue in spare moments the VW starter motor which inconveniently
it was time to reluctantly rip the Seat between jobs. Luckily, it was clear that the intrudes into the footwell.
Ibiza apart and work out how best to Seat Ibiza clutch cover could be used with The idea was, at last, coming together
attach its engine to the Series One gearbox. a standard 9in Land Rover clutch plate. The and showing promise. The new engine
Fortunately, Andy the mechanic and key fit was almost perfect. But then it became a mounting points were welded to the chassis
VW/Land Rover guru on this project had matter of measure four times and cut three. and everything was treated to several
donated an old 1.9 Tdi block and this The depth, inner diameter and outer diameter coats of black POR 15 rust preventative
was to be used as a mule to help with of an adapter plate were established first and chassis paint and injected with Waxoyl.
measurements and fitting. a local engineering firm made the basic part. New parabolic springs, bushes and shock
But first Matt had to move business With the two bolted together it was felt the absorbers were fitted, along with all new
premises from Tansley to Darley Dale. time was right to try them in the chassis and brake components. As this was to be a
Moving an entire business is a lengthy job, assess where the engine mountings would ‘keeper’, it was important to ensure it would
but Project VW Series One was kept together have to be and how the bulkhead would fit be in good condition for many years.
with everything bar the chassis being moved around the new set-up. Next, the axles (with Range Rover 3.5
in one go in the back of Matt’s Unimog. Next the position of the starter motor was diffs), gearbox and transfer box were
Once installed in Darley Dale the project calculated and drilled, along with the holes for refitted in their standard positions. With
had to take an enforced break while ‘real’ the studs that will finally secure the engine the engine now attached to the gearbox
work was attended to. The chassis was leant to the bell housing. With all of those checked and new engine mounting brackets
up against a wall and the bodywork kept and confirmed the Seat dust cover was welded fabricated and fitted, it was time to revert
together in a far corner of the new premises. in place to protect the first motion shaft to the final modifications and fitting of the
There it all lay for about six months. bearing and it was looking good. bulkhead. After more than year’s work, the
Even with the big bits on hold, the Finally, a large chunk of gearbox bell VW-Tdi engined Series One was not far of
important issue of mating the engine and housing had to be cut out to accommodate being roadworthy.
1. The chassis welding was finished and it was 2. Between jobs at the new premises in Darley 3. With the dummy engine and gearbox roughly
acquiring a new patina as it waited for further Dale work could still be done on mating the bolted together it was time to concentrate on
progress dummy engine to the gearbox and finalising the where the engine mountings should be
design of the adaptor plate
4. A new engine mounting was designed on the 5. Brackets were also made to weld to the chassis. 6. A huge amount of space in the engine bay, but
back of an envelope, made and fitted These had to accept an ‘off the shelf’ metalastic next it would be the turn of the real VW 1.9 Tdi
bush for ease of replacement in later life and ancillaries
7. The adapter plate was almost finished. The 8. A huge amount of time and considerable 9. This large piece of bell housing had to be cut away
final hurdle would be a mount for the VW starter expense later. A bespoke adapter plate to connect to make room for the VW starter motor
motor a VW 1.9 Tdi engine to a Series One Land Rover
gearbox
10. With the engine mounting finished, the chassis 11. The engine was finally fitted with the starter 12. At last! A rolling chassis with just the
could finally be painted and declared finished motor and the bulkhead returned to its correct ancillaries to adapt and fit and the small matter of
place for final work putting the body back on
DIFFICULTY RATING:
TECH AND
TOOLBOX TIME ALLOWED: N/A
COST: N/A
IIA 88 REPAIRS
blar blar blar
WORK IN PROGRESS
Jim Willett introduces a friend’s 1961 IIA which needs some repairs and
re-assembly to get back on the road
WORDS AND PHOTOS JIM WILLETT
J
ohn Cox has been a Land Rover owner number to put on his Range Rover, so the and work on it between other jobs.
since the early 1980s, even before IIA was re-registered as CAS 296. After a good look at CAS 496, a plan for
he was old enough to hold a driving After a few years, the body panels had the repairs was drawn up. Students at the
license. His first Land Rover was an 80in, been re-painted and the tired 2,286cc petrol local college needed engines to practice
bought by his father and later fitted with a engine removed in favour of a Perkins Prima re-building, so the original 2,286cc petrol
2.2 TC Rover car engine. John’s adventures turbo diesel engine from an Austin Montego. would be entrusted to them for repair.
in the 80in lasted until 1999 when the The Perkins worked well, but eventually The chassis was reasonably solid, but
Series One was left parked on the road began to leak oil and replacement parts were some old repairs would need making good
overnight and someone managed to set fire becoming scarce, so was eventually removed before re-assembly. The bulkhead would
to the tilt, destroying the Land Rover. for a Tdi conversion. be repaired and the front panels re-fitted
The Series IIA you see here replaced the Unfortunately, John just didn’t have the before the Land Rover was given a good
80in as John’s transport for the next decade. time to re-build the Land Rover, and with going over to prepare it for an MOT.
When purchased, the Land Rover had its a house move looming, the decision had to The overall brief was to get the IIA
share of dents and scratches, but had been be made to get some help with the re-build roadworthy without doing a full restoration:
bought new by the vendor’s family to work or put the Land Rover up for sale. I didn’t John still wanted to be able to drive green
on their Welsh estate and was all original. really have time to get involved, but thought lanes and load the Land Rover up without
Unfortunately, the vendor kept the it would be a shame for the IIA to be sold, worrying about scratching the paintwork.
original Gloucestershire registration so agreed to give it a home for a few years Next month the repairs begin.
1. John’s IIA had been under a sheet for several 2. …A 200 Tdi engine had been purchased, but 3. The 88in had always leaned to one side,
years with a leaky Perkins Prima engine removed when a 300 Tdi Ninety joined the fleet, John even after new springs were fitted. Several
to make way for a 200 Tdi… decided to return the IIA to standard measurements with the tape measure revealed…
4. …That an incorrectly fitted replacement front 5. The footwells would also require some attention 6. …But previous patches required replacement
dumb-iron was to blame. This would need cutting before the wings were re-fitted. Corrosion was not and repairs would be much easier before the
and re-welding correctly to make the IIA sit level excessive… wings were re-fitted
7. The top of the bulkhead was in excellent 8. The inside of the Land Rover was partially 9. Off the road since February 2010, but CAS 496
condition, so it would be worth making a decent stripped and filled with parts which had rusted as looked far from beyond repair
job on the lower section rain blew in through the back
10. The IIA was easily winched from its resting 11. As repairs were not urgent, it was agreed 12. …so after cleaning and initial assessment, it
place onto a friend’s trailer, but a binding brake that work on John’s Land Rover would take place was parked outside the workshop until the rebuilt
made unloading a slower operation between other jobs… engine was ready to be fitted
CALL NOW
0800 083 6228 91 of customers would
carolenash.com/classic-car recommend Carole Nash
Based on reviews from July 2017 – December 2017
Devils Marbles, NT
Crossing
Series IIA and five friends
set off to travel 8,000km
through Central Australia
in the wet season
a Continent
WORDS AND PICTURES LOUIS WYATT
MAP LOUISE LIMB
T
Salt Lakes, SA. Courtesy of David Cyngler wo years ago, I became the lucky after the first conception of the expedition,
owner of a 1961 Series IIA SWB the two vehicles, laden to the brim, full
named Little John, whose green of six eager souls, finally rolled out of
charm I could not resist. After many months Melbourne on an overcast day, hoping to
ironing the inevitable foibles from the return approximately six weeks later.
vehicle, the plan was formed to embark on As the convoy rolled out of the city, and
a truly adventurous road trip – 8,000km onto the open highway it soon became
through Central Australia, traveling clear what the coming weeks would entail.
from the vehicle’s home in coffee-loving Having removed the windows from the car,
Melbourne, Victoria, to the hot and sticky the wind billowed strongly in our faces. The
surrounds of Cairns, Queensland. Taking the only on-board entertainment came from
inland Stuart Highway, as opposed to the a pair of speakers powered from the solar
more leisurely eastern coast, the conditions panel which had been ratchet strapped to
would test any vehicle, let alone a 57-year- the canvas roof of the vehicle.
old Land Rover, with no air conditioning, A number of hours later, the two vehicles
no modern brakes, and a top speed of rolled over the Victorian border, entering
around 52mph (on a good day). South Australia. With the customary photos
Any serious road trip requires a name, and secured, we ventured further down the
so soon the Trans-Australian Expedition highway, aiming for our first night stop of
was born, the name hoping to add an air Robe, the port town situated 490km from
of professionalism, which a group of early Melbourne. Day one was completed, and
20-year-olds would otherwise have lacked. camp was set up (a routine which certainly
A second car was found (a 2002 Holden got quicker as the days rolled by), and we
Jackeroo nicknamed Jeff), and a group of all settled down for the evening.
friends who were willing to battle Central Two days later, and having crossed
Australia during its wet season. Six months through Adelaide, we pulled into Port
Augusta, the most southern town on the the car followed, as we considered the great
Stuart Highway, and the point we really distances we had already covered in the
thought the road trip began. In front of us previous three days.
lay the 2,834km stretch of road running Day four brought with it the promise
through the centre of Australia, which we of the opal mining town of Coober Pedy.
would follow for the next two weeks. The climate around the town is so harsh,
Having sourced a strip of metal to replace that some of the locals live underground,
the broken mirror arm on the car, the tyres protecting themselves from the extreme
rolled onto the highway, and enthusiasm sun. The sun did not disappoint, and as the
and expectations erupted among all those mercury climbed to 44 degrees, the Land
on the trip. By the evening, we had pulled Rover with its lack of air conditioning
into our camp for the night at Lake Hart. became unbearable. Gale force winds
The massive salt lake for which the site was and the extreme heat further exacerbated
named, was visible below us, and as the the already slow progress of the vehicle,
desert sun set, it cast an array of blues, reds reducing the maximum speed to 40mph.
and golds across its otherwise stark white Only when the massive road trains would
surface. Once again, further tinkering with overtake the little car, creating a windbreak,
Arrival in the NT
Australia
Crossing into South
discovered we were all musically inclined (and what would be our only) night in a
they requested we put on a small concert. quintessential Australian Road House. We Clocking Round
Luckily for them we had carried our also spent an afternoon frolicking in the
instruments all the way from Melbourne, naturally-occurring Mataranka Springs.
and so the evening passed with renditions After almost two weeks on the road, it
of jazz standards and tap dancing. Alas, was certainly a delight to be able to soak
after three very comfortable days in Alice in the warm water. We were actually
Springs, having met some wonderful people particularly lucky that the springs were
and serviced the Land Rover, we once again open, as during the wet season, the water is
pulled out of the town, the cars heading a favourite spot for crocodiles. Eventually,
further north into increasing humidity. however, and after 12 days on the road,
Over the next 1,500 km between Alice we arrived in Darwin, the most northern
Springs and Darwin we spent our first a
point of our trip. To be continued...
doors.
Specifications made with
British rolled steel. mjpflannery@hotmail.com
Mike Flannery
Located in the
Midlands, 5 minutes 01594 861095
from junction 15 on We can create accurate and precise
springs for all Land Rovers as we have
the M6 the original multileaf specifications for REPAIRS & SERVICES VEHICLE PARTS
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www.classiclandrover.com SEPTEMBER 2018 97
LOOKING BACK
T
he Queen’s Colour Squadron was The unit evolved from the RAF Drill Northern Ireland.
formed in 1960 and is the unit of Unit when it was charged with the task of
the Royal Air Force responsible for guarding and escorting the Queen’s Colour
the safekeeping of the Queen’s Colour. It of the Royal Air Force in the United The Queen’s Colour Squadron (No 63
is manned by officers and men of the RAF Kingdom. It was renamed the Queen’s Squadron RAF Regiment). In this role it
Regiment. Its ceremonial role, involves Colour Squadron and remained a wholly is responsible for the defence of RAF and
the squadron representing the Royal Air ceremonial unit for 30 years: noted for other assets on the ground from enemy
Force on important occasions. Duties
have included mounting the guard at
displays of exhibition drill performed
without a single word of command.
forces.a
Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and ‘Options for Change’ was a restructuring
The Tower of London and it has provided of the British Armed Forces in 1990 at Parading of The Queen’s Colour at Royal Air
guards of honour for various visiting the end of the Cold War. This led to the Force Oakington, Cambridgeshire, on June 11,
heads of state at Heathrow Airport. squadron also being given an operational 1960 with the assistance of an 86in Series One.
role as a field squadron and renamed The Land Rover has been embellished with a
chrome front bumper and whitewall tyres