“Land Rover is a British Institution"
A fascinating new class honouring vintage Land Rovers will be featured at the London Concours, hosted by Montres Breguet, in 2023, which is less than a month away. The Vehicles That Built Land Rover category, sponsored by Land Rover Classic, will highlight some of the renowned off-road vehicles from the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s that helped make Land Rover one of the most recognisable and well-respected brands in the world.
From June 6–8, these classic automobiles will participate in what is sure to be London's best automotive garden party yet alongside nearly 100 other incredible privately owned vehicles in the lovely grounds of the Honourable Artillery Company.
The programme eloquently depicts the incredible journey that Land Rover has taken over the previous seven decades, changing from a seller of tough workhorses to a truly worldwide powerhouse in luxury. And with the Land Rover Pre Production L07, which will be the show's headliner, nowhere is that more obvious. When it was unveiled at the 1948 Amsterdam Motor Show and used to provide tours to guests, the L07 was one of the first cars to convey firm founder Maurice Wilks' idea of a British utility 4x4 around the globe. This extremely gorgeous Series I had a remarkable existence. It vanished for many years until being found in a garden in 2016, not far from the Solihull factory where it was first created. It has been meticulously repaired and now stands tall as a true piece of automotive history. It is guaranteed to be one of the most well-liked displays at this year's Concours.
1948 Land Rover Pre Pro L07 1
1948 Land Rover Pre Pro L07 1
It will be joined by an early Series I that, in 1954, participated in a Trans-Africa challenge organised by teams from Oxford and Cambridge Universities and amply demonstrated the off-road capabilities of the early Land Rover models. The 86" Station Waggon demonstrated its lineage by completing a voyage of more than 25,000 miles that wound its way from North Africa to Cape Town and back again, through a variety of nations that faced various, difficult circumstances as well as the dangerous Sahara Desert. Series I, which proved its tenacity in the most hostile circumstances, may have been the true winner of the trip even if Oxford was the first team to return.
“Land Rover is a British institution that has made a lasting impression on car fans across the world, and there are few brands that elicit such passion, particularly when it comes to its earliest models. We are honoured that visitors to the 2023 London Concours will have the chance to get up close to a collection of its pioneering machines thanks to the ‘Cars That Built Land Rover’ class, which promises to be a highlight of this year’s event. Excitement is building fast for the show, which is now just a matter of weeks away and will unquestionably be the best yet. Stay tuned for more announcements.” Commented, Andrew Evans, London Concours Director
1954 Land Rover Balmoral 86
1954 Land Rover Balmoral 86
There will also be another Series I from the early 1950s on display that belonged to the Royal Family and led a more privileged life. The 1953-built and 1954-registered Series 86" SW was a go-to vehicle for Queen Elizabeth II, who had it brought to her Balmoral estate in Aberdeenshire and liked riding in it with Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. After being sold in 1966 to a private buyer, it went into disrepair but has now been meticulously repaired to the point that it was able to play a significant part in the Queen's Golden Jubilee Pageant in 2022. Visitors will certainly enjoy the opportunity to come up close to a vehicle that served Her Queen so honourably.
Spencer Wilks, who co-founded Land Rover with his brother Maurice and had a remarkable career as managing director, chairman, and president of the Rover Corporation, will be proudly displaying a 1965 Series II alongside these Series I vehicles. Spencer Wilks also co-founded Land Rover. When Wilks visited Islay in Argyllshire, which was frequently used as a testing ground for Land Rover in its early years, he used the S2A 88. With its striking grey paint and limestone-coloured wheels and roof, it must have made quite an impact on the Hebridean isle. Visitors will have a wonderful opportunity to observe Series II's minor changes from its illustrious predecessors thanks to its debut at the London Concours.
The Honourable Artillery Company's Defender 90 Wolf, a vehicle that effectively exemplifies how Land Rover also became a reputable manufacturer of light military vehicles, will be one of the vehicles on home soil during the event. The Wolf, which was first made available in 1998 and is as tough and reliable as you might imagine, quickly became a common sight on TV news stories from Afghanistan and Iraq, where the British military frequently employed it for patrol work. The fact that there are still numerous Wolfs serving with distinction in the military all around the world emphasises their imposing toughness and resilience.
The event in June will offer a tempting spectrum of vehicles from a variety of exotic marques, and the Cars That Built Land Rover class is only one of several amazing categories. As we get closer to the seventh iteration of this unmissable event, it joins the already revealed Golden Era Coupes, Designed to Race on The Road, Evolution of Aero, and Grand Tourisme classes.
Discover more: London Concours