Tag: africa
Spotted: Defender at Solwezi airport
A year 2000 with relatively low mileage and still working every day, this Defender 110 emergency fire response vehicle at the Solwezi airport has a pickup cab and carries a heavy duty fire pump, tools, and a smaller hose of its own. Bonus sighting of a Zambian Air Force Harbin Y-12.
Spotted: Series 3 in Lusaka
Still going strong at 40 or 50 years old, this series 3 has been outfitted with reflector strips, a towing hook with emergency lights and hand winch, rear headache rack with side bars, and bush bar with driving light bar. It could use a few more wheel lugs though! Plated as EV-53, this is possibly…
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…
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.
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.
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…
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…
Spotted: Series 2 in Africa
Another rover which spent time in the same area traversing difficult terrain to carry supplies overland to remote locations. Also a 109″ with pickup cab and canvas back but probably Series 2 and first registered in 1961 in Angola. A late Series 2a also appears in some of the photos. In that era and in…
Spotted: Series 2 in Angola
Another rover which spent time in the same area traversing difficult terrain to carry supplies overland to remote locations. Also a 109″ with pickup cab and canvas back but likely Series 2 and first registered in 1959 in Angola. In that era and in that area Land Rovers were necessary to travel most times of…
Overland views: Water features
Flowing day in and day out with a thunderous roar, carrying water to a dry and thirsty land. 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…