Solihull calling . . .

I ACKNOWLEDGE the effort put in by yourself and the contributors in making the magazine an enjoyable read each month. It must be stressful.

Dunsfold Diaries is very interesting this month. The large photograph is superb and shows a lot of detail, but is it a view of Solihull? I cannot put my finger on one point that I recognise. The other photograph showing the rolling chassis waiting to go to Marshalls, is within the two assembly blocks at Solihull.

The first army vehicles were sprayed a very dark green. From a very short distance away they appeared black.

This paint finish was described as Deep Bronze Green. Over time this colour shade lightened and the ‘Deep’ bit of the name was dropped and it became just Bronze Green. In the early 1950s, a lot (hundreds) of military Series Is were sprayed a sand colour for operation in the Suez crisis.

I think Phillip is correct and the white vehicles with the blue circular badge on the doors, are UN vehicles. Some export vehicles did have limestone coloured wheels. Looking at the photograph there are a lot of vehicles with light coloured wheels.

It would be interesting to see more of Philip Bashall’s newly-acquired photograph collection. Graham Nash Birmingham

Indeed it would Graham, and as a retired former employee of Rover who personally knew Land Rover creator Maurice Wilks and one of the few people who witnessed the original Centre Steer prototype, back in 1947, you may well be right. We will do our homework and get back to you – Ed.