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Spotted: Daihatsu hijet keitora
On the shores of Lake Cowichan, 4×4 with roof rack, work lights, and fancy rims. Kei-tora (kei trucks) are in a lightweight category under 600cc and are often used a local runabouts and farming or working vehicles in the countryside. They can be distinguished by yellow coloured license plates in Japan. This one was at…
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Spotted: JAS 90 on streetview
An interesting bit of geolocating and detective work reveals the past home of a 1997 Japanese spec Defender 90 (#426) on the streets of Okinawa. It appears that a respray in the original Arles blue colour occurred between the 2017 and 2020 photos, note the missing “Rover Japan” decal and refreshed appearance after that point.…
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Overland Views: Zambian Blacksmith
Often simple is the best way. This Zambian blacksmith is using hand-tanned antelope skins over baked clay pots, tied on with bicycle tube rubber for an air supply. His forge is natural clay, and the charcoal is homemade, some of it on-the-fly around the edges of his forge. The large sledgehammer in the lower left…
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Land Rover Videos
A curated playlist including historical and vintage promotional and training videos from Land Rover and other bits and pieces of interesting or useful rover related content.
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Spotted: the Bush Tucker Man Perentie
In the wilds of Australia driven by Maj. Les Hiddins. The Perentie is an Australian military project and an excellent take on the classic early Defender that included as stock a sturdy galvanized chassis and naturally aspirated Isuzu diesel engine. Two door with original olive drab paint and canvas before the “custom” diy camo added…
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Spotted: Series 3 in Africa
The Series 3 contained some refinements such as syncro gears, a new dashboard, taller seat backs, and sturdy door hinges. It is distinguished from Series 2 and 2a by the headlights placed out on the wings instead of in the centre on the grille, and from the late 2a by a moulded plastic grille rather…
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Overland views: Canadian Rockies
Near the limits of the tree line, where only coniferous trees dare to grow, next to the thundering glacier water and the jagged bare rock. In an era when Land Rovers were conquering many hard to reach areas. Scanned from slides documenting the journeys of daily life in the great white north in years gone…
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Spotted: late Series 2a in Angola
The Series 2 and 2a are considered some of the most hardy and iconic of the Land Rover models. An earlier Series 2 also appears in some of the photos below. The late 2a is distinguished from the earlier ones by the headlights moving out from the centre onto the wings. It can generally be…
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Spotted: late Series 2a in Africa
The Series 2 and 2a are considered some of the most hardy and iconic of the Land Rover models. The late 2a is distinguished from the earlier ones by the headlights moving out from the centre onto the wings. It can generally be told from Series 3 by the 2a style wire grille rather than…
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History – Poppy Series 2a 109
This 1966 Land Rover Series 2a 109″ was purchased new at a Canadian dealership and has been in the same family since 1970. It spent about 23 years on the road in the Kamloops area, mostly locally to the lakes for ice fishing and hunting, and has 67k miles on the odometer. The original colour…
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Overland views: along the way
Roads were hardly existent, bridges were optional, and seasons could dictate travel. In that era and in that area Land Rovers were necessary to travel most times of the year. Scanned from slides documenting the journeys of daily life far across the sea in years gone by, bringing the first-hand accounts to life. My grandparents…
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Spotted: Series 2a in Angola
The Series 2 and 2a are considered some of the most hardy and iconic of the Land Rover models. In the early 60s my grandparents had this lovely 1962 series 2a 109″, very similar to Poppy. Theirs was equipped with a pickup cab, tropical roof, galvanized hoops/rack, and canvas back. In that era and in…
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Overland views: local architecture
Various structures built with local natural materials including logs, sticks, bamboo, earth, clay, straw, and stones. Scanned from slides documenting the journeys of daily life far across the sea in years gone by, bringing the first-hand accounts to life.
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Land Rover legacy
I still remember the exact place I was standing and the exact moment as a young child that I first heard the name of an adventurous-sounding machine called, “Land Rover”, visualizing the scenes as I heard tales of traversing difficult terrain in deepest Africa where few vehicles could go and few sojourners would venture. It…
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Overland views: tracks only a rover could love
In the 1950s and 60s there was only one vehicle which could reliably access many areas of the African continent. The Land Rover Series 2 was released in 1958 with several improvements aimed at its new primary role as a vehicle for overland exploration and off-road travel in support situations. The Series 2a was released…
Prepare for adventure.
“If you don’t slow down once in awhile, life can pass you by.” Adventures can be far or near, large or small, and each one has a lesson–and a story.