It was about 1959 I think, when I saw my first landrover ........

[wedgetail37]

It was about 1959 I think, when i saw my first Landrover............

I was a young tacker at Primary School in Nottingham, England. There were 2 cars that caught my eye parked near the school. One was an E-Type jaguar, so sleek and beautiful. The other was a Landrover, not so sleek but to my eyes absolutely beautiful. I fell in love with both these magnificent machines of the fifties and sixties. ( I just googled when the first E-Type jag was made and it was 1961. So, i must have been 10 years old and in my second to last year at Primary School).

I watched and read everything I could find on these machines (no internet yet).
Which way would I lean? towards the sleek cat or the rugged practical Beast.
I have always liked Jaguars and always will, but the Landrover stole my heart 100%.

I dreamt of them as a kid and my passion to this day has still not waned. They represent freedom and individuality to me. 'My machine'
Over the years I have owned Landrovers and other 4x4's and really liked them but have never had a love affair with any of them except the Landrovers.

I went to Grammar School in England and I remember always looking at the big map of Australia in my book in the Geography Class. It set my imagination on fire. Such a big exciting country with so much to explore. Perfect for me, but of course not possible. I loved everything about this big exciting country. I read everything I could about Australia.
Then one day after school, my Dad said to me, "Hey son, do you want to go to live in Australia?". Wow, my dream had come true. I said a sad goodbye to my then 'life long friends' and never looked back. The rest is history.

I have crossed all the deserts in Oz, gone twice around and done most all things related to 4x4 camping etc. I have had a great life. I love Australia.

The only really sad and soul destroying time was when my wife of 39 years passed away from Cancer. This destroyed me. I was so hurt and I thought I would never recover. But my passion for Australia and Landrovers was strong enough to help me get back on my feet amongst other things (my kids of course)

Now to the point: At the age of 62 I now have a Landrover Discovery 1998 diesel and I am so very pleased to be back in a Landy. My 2 oldest sons bought the Discovery for me as I am on a disibility pension with limited funds. My favourite is the Defender, but dollars and availability had to be taken into consideration. But the truth is, as long as there is a Landrover badge on the car I am happy.

I told my sons they have to salute the Landrover when they pull up at the house. I will leave it to your imagination as to their response hahahahahahaha. They probably just think the silly old bastard has dementia!!

Some people will understand what I am saying and a lot of people will not, but I reckon if you want a 4x4 that is dinkum and original, then buy a Landrover with all its warts and wrinkles. Take care of it and it will take care of you. See ya all sometime in the Bush or even maybe at a Shopping Centre in Albany.

[bob10]

How are the wildflowers near Albany? I think you have it fairly spot on. Keep smiling, Bob

[wedgetail37]

How are the wildflowers near Albany? I think you have it fairly spot on. Keep smiling, Bob
Hi Bob, A bit early for the Wildflowers this way, although the Wattles have been blooming for about 3 weeks. Need a bit more sun like yesterday (22 degrees). Thanks for the post and have a beaut day mate. See ya - Gerry

[harro]

"Take care of it and it will take care of you"


And if (heaven forbid) your Landrover doesn't take care of you I am sure the Landrover community will.

Look after yourself Gerry and thanks for brightening my day.:)

Cheers,
Paul.

[wedgetail37]

Thank you paul. You brightened my day also. Take Care - Gerry

[rocmic]

I know what you mean about Land Rovers. I fell in love when I was 4 (back in 1964) when I was driven home from kindergarten by a soldier in his work car.
I was 48 before I got my first - a D3, I am still loving.
What I would like is a 1959 series, just have to keep dreaming I guess.

A great post
Cheers
Mike

[Redback]

My story is similar to rocmic, but I was 5 and it was 1960, after a very long and slippery trip from Moree to weemelah(sheep station and the old man was a shearer) in an old Ford Prefect, the owner met us at the gate in a Land Rover, it would be 45yrs before I would own one though, in 2005, thanks to this Forum we purchased a 2001 Discovery 2, now own a Discovery 4 and love it.

Baz.

[wedgetail37]

Good dream Mike. I want one also. Maybe I should have stole that one outside my school many years ago. Its a Landrover, so there is a fair chance that one is still running. Especially it being in England and the parts being 'Holden priced' in comparison. I bet there is still a few in sheds etc around the world that need a good owner.

So, anybody that is reading this and have an old 1959 Landrover in the shed contact Mike first and if you have 2, then I bags second hahahahahaha.

have a beaut day Mike and thanks again for your post. keep loving that D3 See ya mate - Gerry

Ps. I have a sticker on my landrover that say, "Wanted. Woman who can clean, cook and have own Landrover. Please send pics of Landrover.

[wedgetail37]

Hi Baz. Some get a landrover early and some get one later in life. That doesnt matter as the only thing that does matter is that you got one. I feel sorry for the ones that haven't had the Landrover experience yet or maybe never will. A D4... beautiful mate. and whooo a Ford Prefect. Now that was once a popular car. Have a ripper day and thanks for the post. See ya - Gerry

[wedgetail37]

www.australianoutdoors.com

:oJust out of interest, anybody remember the website above?? I created and run it for about 7 years and sold it about 7 years ago. Just interested as I hope I made my mark a little in the Australian Outdoors scene. BTW, the guy I sold it to just didnt have the time to pursue it and it died, so there is no point looking at that address. See ya - Gerry:mad:

[Rextheute]

I wanted a land rover when I was about 22, I'd owned a suceesion of early 60s and 70 cars ( still do actually ) I was working at a land rover dealership in Sydney .
A lada niva came in and i bought it ... then another one which my dad bought - this was whilst I was saving for a house and ladas were cheap !

My dad bought me a land rover model and made a little box to keep it in .
" one day you can buy a big one ! ' he used to joke .

On the weekend my wife and i were looking at the land rover in its box and i said my father gave me that when we bought our first house .......
I jokingly said well maybe I should buy one ?

The answer was ," if you want ' you never know what will happen "

And yes life has its ups downs and all in between - No I haven't ordered a land rover , but have certainly spoken to some nice ( and some proper peanuts ) at the dealerships . Will be following up over the next little while .

So maybe it just takes a while to sink in .....

[wedgetail37]

Thanks for the post Rex. Go on, be a devil and go buy that Landrover you wanted since you were 22. The Boss has agreed. Nothing to stop ya. Go for it mate. Just call me as I am a Landrover salesman. hahahahahahaha only joking. have a good day. See ya - Gerry.

Ps, I too have a Landrover model. I can see it now on the shelf in my shed. The guys from work bought it for me when i left the job many years ago. They said they were passing the hat to get me a going away present. I said i wanted a Landrover!!

[olbod]

Yep, 1959 for me too, in the Nasho's.
One day we learnt how to wrap one in canvas and bushes on the edge of the dam. We took turns paddleing the thing about.
I purchased my first new Landy in 1962.

[DeeJay]

I am the same age & have much the same story. A couple of outdoor adventure guys visited my school in 1965 - when I was 13- & gave me a lift home in a fairly new station wagon. They took a right hand corner so fast it nearly went up on 2 wheels with me sliding across the rear seat & slamming into the passenger door. We all laughed like idiots & that was the start of it all for me.

[UncleHo]

My interest started in the 60's when I applied for and got a position with BMC/Leyland Aus.which had me move from Qld. with wife and young son to Sydney and the chance to study "Automotive Trade Theory and Calcs" a specialist spare parts tech course,was involved in the parts supply side of the Army Contracts for SVN and stayed in the Leyland and dealer system (including at Annand & Thompson P/L. in Brisbane) until about 1980 and then went to Lucas Aust. moved up to Qld for health & family reasons in 82 and been here since,my current vehicles are all Landrover products 2 x Series, 1 x RRC,1 x D1 300TDI auto :)

[wedgetail37]

Thank you guys for your posts. It looks like there are quite a few stories about how Landrovers got into our lives when we were youngsters. it been great to hear your stories. Thank you all again and have a great day. See ya all - Gerry

"Landrovers are special and don't like to die. They never 'break down', they just fail to proceed for a while".

[JDNSW]

I don't remember noticing Landrovers until I got a job as a field assistant on a geological survey in the summer break after my first year at university in 1959. The field party had four Series 1 swb hardtops, and the major part of my job was driving one.

Obviously, this led to me buying for my first four wheel drive in 1962 a similar vehicle, ex SMHEA, and I owned Landrovers as my only car until 1969 when I moved overseas. I did not own a four wheel drive until after I bought this property, and in 1990 bought an ex-army 2a to use on the place, which I these days drive almost daily. This was supplemented by a 110 County in 1993 when we started to plan to move here.

John

[jonesfam]

My Dad was a Tech with the PMG, he had a canvas covered Landie in the mid 60's as a work car.
Used to take me with him sometimes if he had to fix stuff on a week-end.
Loved it, absolute bush bashing to get to some places.
I seem to remember the thing had canvas doors or no doors?
Jonesfam

[Gary S11]

First car I ever drove was a s2 Landy, I must have been about 8 sitting on my Dads lap, looking through the vent flap under the screen as I couldn't see over it. It was on the top of Wellington rd Vic, when it was still dirt, on my 3 rd one now. After jeeps and haflingers