Originally posted by StiffLegged Tim, a Short Wheel Base Series 2 Land Rover is never, ever a Chelsea Tractor. You’ll be calling a Willys Jeep a boulevard cruiser next!
Out here on the Northwestern Great Plains...or prairie provinces as we call them, in the 1950's/'60's we never had many of the traditional Land Rovers. I recall just two in my burg.
One was owned by a highly regarded radio announcer , and he said on air...'he had to be behind the microphone at 3:30 am ....in Winterpeg...he needed a Land Rover to ensure he could fight through snow drifts left by our not uncommon prairie blizzards. '
The other one, owned by a pro photographer who worked at the same publishing company that I did.
I had a ride in it once in the winter. It was about -25 F , cold, wintry, snowy...and that was just inside the Land Rover.
The heater/ defroster was overwhelmed by our deadly winter. Or maybe his heater/defroster wasn't working well. It was also noisy...but then it was one serious truck, not a Cadillac.
I recall a staff meeting at the publishing company. The photographer asked the publisher ...'when the company parking lot was going to be plowed out ? ' The publisher replied...'well it's not that bad...and then added...'why do drive that thing. you recently bought (referring to the Land Rover). "
The photog replied..." I need it to get in and out of the parking lot ! "...to a chorus of laughter from the rest of the staff.
I like the original Land Rover, tough as nails, unique look, go anywhere ability.
If I was wealthy, I think I would like to have an older one resto modified. A hard top '60's LR, with the Rover V8...which as many know, was originally designed, made and used by Buick. But maybe not. Some LR aficionados would probably denounce me for modifying it...sacrilege don't you know, old bean.
I know I could just buy a '90's Land Rover Defender, which some of this model featured the Rover V8...and that might be the way to go...but first off I need lottery winnings.
I wouldn't use mine as a Chelsea tractor. My wife and I, and also our son and me, do like to go out on country back roads...looking for abandoned iron and wildlife to take pix with, using of course my Pentax gear. Some of these excursions go through pretty rough territory, where having 4WD/AWD, additional traction aide settings, ground clearance and truck type tires to work our way through unsavoury road conditions. The Defender would be right for the job, although our large Chevy SUV does a very good job of ploughing through unimproved roads now.
LR bought the rights from General Motors, to manufacture this great, small V8, and modified it , to meet Rover needs. I think Rover did a great job and of course there were many Rover V8's that were used in other British vehicles.
We had a 2007 , 6 passenger, Buick sedan that had the Buick 3800cc , 90 degree V6, which came out in the early '60's...and was available in many forms....and it was related to the Buick/Rover V8...in original design, etc..
That Buick of ours, was a great car, very torque rich and could really move that 4000 pound Buick of ours, out quickly.
The Bujick 90 degree V6, during it's life was supercharged, turbocharged, carbureted, fuel injected...used in Indy race cars, was the 'big motor' in Jeeps for awhile. Jeep bought the rights to to this engine from GM in the 1960's, used it, then GM bought the rights, etc...back from Jeep in the '70's and used it for years. In fact it was the basis in turbo form, for one of the fastest American Muscle cars of the '80's. The late, lamented Buick GN-X.
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