A case of immortality
Land Rovers never die; they just wait for someone to restore them
DEFENDER’S don’t die. They might take a sabbatical for a couple of years in a field, without moving, trying to keep the mileage down before someone takes them on as a project, but for better or worse, they don’t die.
In the case of our cover story, it was definitely for better as the Withers family asked Astwood 4x4 to give their beloved One Ten a resto after it stood unloved for five years. They say that 70 per cent of all Land Rovers ever made are still on the road. The other 30 per cent are in a field, waiting to be fixed or restored.
This is great news for the enthusiast looking for a project, of course, and our cover story and the Withers family are living proof of just that. The world is full of Land Rovers just waiting to be lovingly restored, which is a nightmare for us Landy lovers who have to be mindful of a cut-off at some point – just how many Land Rovers is too many!?
While recently cruising around Ireland I experienced first hand the power of media, both print and social. I was driving a thirsty 300bhp new Discovery with LRM branding when during one of my
several fuel stops the young lad behind the till got all excited when he saw the red LRM logo. “My dad is a subscriber. Are you Patrick?” I nodded an affirmative. “I can’t wait to tell him that you’re in town.” Later that same day while shooting a lovely Lightweight in the walled city of Derry I posted a pic of it on Instagram. One of the LRM followers replied to say that he lives around the corner. He also wanted to know if I wanted to go and see some PSNI Land Rovers with him that evening. Not only are the folk in Ireland very friendly, they also seem to be avid LRM readers.
Finally it was so great to meet both old and new subscribers at the recent Driffield Spring Adventure Land Rover Show. New subscribers received an Outwell camping chair worth £ 49.99. No, we did not forget about existing subscribers. They were given a free copy of our recent Defender magbook. So all the LRM fans left the show happy. We will have the same deal at the Kelmarsh Land Rover show so please do come over and greet the team.
See you there! Patrick Cruywagen Editor