I decided to build this, a long-range patrol vehicle because I was inspired by a picture in LRO years ago.
It showed five 80in Land Rovers, believed to be Jordan Arab Army (Arab Legion) vehicles. This is my replica of a typical Series I LRPV as used by the same unit, during the 1950s. It had no rust at all in it when I first saw it in the 1990s; it had probably done around 20,000 miles. I took it in part exchange against a 90; it was in pieces. I began rebuilding it around 2000 and took it to its first show in 2003. My son Justin was heavily involved in the rebuild and deserves much of the credit for how it looks now.
I put a lot of effort into the bodywork, such as the wheelarches and radiator support panel. I built good guards out of a number of them. I put in a new floor and riveted it with aircraft rivets, just as would have happened in period.
I didn’t rebuild the engine, as it had been done before I’d bought it. I just pulled the sump off and replaced the big end bearings, put in a high-output oil pump that I modified, and changed the timing chain. I just checked the engine was fine.
The side lights are up on the bulkhead; I wanted to put blinkers (indicators) on it. I’ve seen this idea on some other Land Rovers where they’ve had jerry cans on front, and you can just see them if the jerry cans are facing the right way. I think I probably got the idea from the Minerva.
There’s recent military history in it to: I ended up breaking a British Army 90 for a mate of mine who brought it into Australia without paperwork and so couldn’t register it – I ended up with the tyres off it.
See your vehicle in the next issue of LRO, email theo@lro.
