HUNT FOR FAMOUS LAND ROVERS

EVERY fan of the brand feels all warm and fuzzy inside when they spot a legendary, historic or famous Land Rover. Where does one begin? I say at the finish, with the last ever production old Defender to roll off the Solihull production line on January 29, 2016, a Heritage 90 soft top with the reg plate HI66 HUE. Let’s go back to the beginning to probably the most famous (and oldest) Land Rover on the planet HUE166, a pre-production Series I 80 inch. Both the aforementioned priceless Land Rovers can be seen at the British Motor Museum and they are normally wheeled out for major events, special occasions and anniversaries. There are lots of other famous Land Rovers on display at the BMM, such as one of the Darien Gap expedition Range Rovers or one of the many grey Defender 110 double cabs that were smashed up during the incredible chase of the Bond movie Skyfall. Another favourite has to be Oxford, the 1955 Series I from the famous book The First Overland which is all about some Oxford and Cambridge students driving from London to Oxford in two Series Is. In 2019 Oxford (Cambridge is missing in action) did the trip in reverse again and I doubt that there was a more photographed Land Rover in that year. Other famous Land Rovers you have to see: The Dunsfold Collection’s Centre Steer Prototype, Joe and Bob Ive’s Defender 110, which they drove when winning the Camel Trophy and the one millionth Discovery, which drove from Birmingham to Beijing.