A legendary show!
If Land Rover Legends was impressive last year, it really surpassed itself this year . . . LRM’S event reporter takes up the story
AMONG the vehicles on display at the 2019 Land Rover Legends show were SAS Pink Panthers and DPVS, in what was the largest-ever gathering of these amazing models, including two brought all the way from France and two that are ordinarily hidden from view at the SAS base in Hereford. Such is the passion and enthusiasm that surrounds these vehicles that a senior serving officer in the Regiment made a private visit to the show on the Friday to view the assembled Pinkies, and was delighted to be reunited with the very vehicle that was ‘his wagon’ in the Second Gulf War!
A line-up of seven 100-inch prototypes attracted a huge amount of interest, book-ended as they were by the surviving examples of the very first coil-sprung Land Rover hybrids and the very first 110s. Then there were the oldest and the youngest Range Rover P38AS, and an impressive gathering of very early Discoverys including a very rare public appearance of the oldest prototype surviving in private hands.
The vehicles were brought to life by their stories, of course, and visitors to the show were treated to personal reminiscences from some of the Land Rover people who designed, built and developed them back in the day, including designers Dave Evans, Mick Jones and George Thomson, and engineers Bob Allsopp and Paul Butterworth.
Roger Jones MBE, accompanied by Alan Bucknell, shared
his stories from a long REME career, during which he trained serving SAS officers, NCOS and troopers in the maintenance and field servicing and repair of their vehicles. Julian Lamb told of his passion for the Discovery and the P38A, of finding and saving historically-important vehicles, and his experiences of restoration.
Special guest Arnold Biber came from Switzerland to be reunited with some of the 100-inch vehicles that participated in the Swiss military trials in the 1970s and shared some fascinating insights, while enthusiast, historian and writer Emrys Kirby related some of the recent developments in his and others ground-breaking research into ‘the best Land Rover that Land Rover never made’. The panel discussions were hosted by TV presenter, vet, scientist and petrolhead Mark Evans, who brought his own brand of Land Rover enthusiasm to the event.
Over 20 national and local Land Rover clubs displayed their vehicles and Bicester Heritage’s new on-site brewery dispensed suitable evening refreshment to those camping over the weekend. And our canine friends seemed to be enjoying themselves as well, being welcome on site this year. All in all, it was a remarkable and hugely enjoyable event.
And Land Rover Legends seems to be developing a reputation for attracting interesting and rarely- seen vehicles whose owners are inspired by the event to bring them out of the garage, shed, unit, barn, museum or wherever else they usually hide. Here are LRM’S top-ten show stoppers!