GAYNOR EVANS, BEDFORDSHIRE

OCCUPATION: Owns fabric agency Outrageously Pink

MY DRIVE: 1958 Series II 88, ‘Babs’ DREAM LAND ROVER TRIP:

Camping in North Norfolk

FIRST LOVE: Gaynor has owned Babs for 18 years, and it’s her first-ever Land Rover. ‘‘In 2002 I bought an old rectory, and my father came home with a long wheelbase ex-utility Land Rover. We fitted the picture: black Labradors, driving gloves, pootling around the lanes. It was fun but I didn’t love the size of it.

‘‘Fred Cox, who worked at the local garage, mentioned to my dad one day in the local pub that there was a short wheelbase Land Rover for sale. My dad came home and asked if I wanted to buy it. I said yes immediately, without even seeing it. It was £800 – I’ve spent more on handbags!

‘Babs’ had been sitting in a barn for years on a local farm. She came with a folder detailing her history, and Gaynor traced her back to the garage in Cheltenham that she was sold to, which unfortunately is no longer there. After some heritage work that was done to her, Babs had been re-registered. ‘‘Her H plate isn’t technically correct, it should be a 58 plate,’’ explains Gaynor. ‘‘I’d love to put her back on the right plate, but I can’t get rid of the ‘BAB’ now because that’s her name, so I need to keep looking for a cherished plate with BAB!’’

FIRST TIME OWNER:

Coming from a petrolhead family, Gaynor was no stranger to the joys of motoring but as a first-time Land Rover owner, there were some memorable moments: ‘‘The first night I had her, I picked up some friends and we went to the local pub. We came out about 10 pm and I couldn’t find the lights, I had no idea how to switch them on! We had to leave Babs at the pub and get a lift home with the landlord.

It wasn’t until the next day

I discovered the light switch is on the outside of the ignition key! So that was my first faux pas as a new Land Rover owner.’’

There were others – including running out of petrol on the A1, thanks to a less than accurate fuel gauge. But Gaynor is not fazed by the learning curve Babs has presented – if anything, she has embraced it. ‘‘We have the odd windscreen wiper flying off, and the steering wheel gets a bit manky in cold weather, but I don’t drive her in the winter given there’s no heater!’’

FAVOURITE DESTINATIONS:

‘‘We don’t go far in Babs, she only does 45 mph comfortably flat out, so if I want to go further afield we may have to trailer her. My daughter rides, so we drive her to the stables. I tend not to take her anywhere I think she might be stolen, so if I want to go shopping, I have to plan it strategically because I can’t lock her up when she’s full of bags. But we love to trundle along in her around the country lanes with the vents open – we don’t really mind if we’re holding up traffic, most people are understanding.’’

Gaynor also takes Babs to the odd car rally and local show, including one at Barrington near Cambridge, where you can expect to see anything from a Hummer or Austin Healey to, of course, the classic Land Rover.

DREAM LAND ROVER TRIP:

‘‘A trip to the north Norfolk coast would be my dream. I have fond memories of camping with a girl friend, in my 911, but I had real Land Rover envy up there.

‘‘I had a new bell tent for my birthday last year, and Babs would be the perfect car to take. Roll the sides up, head up to Norfolk, find an obliging field and set up camp, sit and toast marshmallows.’’

LAND ROVER FOR LIFE:

‘‘People ask me all the time if they can buy her from me, but I don’t want to sell.

‘‘The charm of Land Rovers for me is endless,’’ says Gaynor. ‘‘I would love a new 90 but have yet to drive one to see if it would work for me, I often drive in London so it would be ideal. Can’t wait for a test drive, whatever happens though Babs is staying in the family.’’