One half of the heroic duo of Land Rover 86” Station Wagons to complete the first ever overland expedition from London to Singapore will appear at the Land Rover Legends show in the UK this year.
Part of the famous Oxford & Cambridge Far Eastern Expedition from London to Singapore in 1955, the two Land Rovers were named ‘Oxford’ and ‘Cambridge’. ‘Cambridge’ was sold on its return to the Land Rover factory in Lode Lane, Solihull, and eventually lost when it ran off the road in a subsequent expedition to the Middle East.
‘Oxford,’ however, continues to serve as a loyal and hugely capable 4x4, and as recently as the great British snowfall of the winter jut past, was photographed in action with owner Adam Bennett.
The 1955 expedition, led by six students from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, was a true ‘world first’, capturing the imagination of an international audience thanks to three films commissioned by Sir David Attenborough for the BBC.
Apart from the English Channel and the Bosphorus, and some necessary river crossings along the way, the team of six and their trusted two Land Rover Station Wagons completed the journey from London to Singapore overland, becoming the first ever to do so.
First published in 1957 and since reprinted, the book ‘First Overland’ by expedition member Tim Slessor is still on sale today.
On its return to the UK following the 1955 expedition, ‘Oxford’ was loaned to a British Ornithologists’ Union expedition to Ascension Island in the South Atlantic. Following completion of this expedition, the Land Rover was left with a local support worker on the island, and he continued to use the vehicle for many years, before replacing it with a later 88” and continuing to utilise ‘Oxford’ for parts.
Eventually, he retired and took both vehicles back to his home on the island of Saint Helena – further south in the Atlantic. There, the vehicles remained, until British enthusiast Adam Bennett pursued a dream imagined by many a Land Rover enthusiast and, with the help of journalist Peter Galilee, convinced the islander to return both vehicles to the UK in exchange for a newer 300Tdi Defender.
Back in the UK, ‘Oxford’, thanks to its younger 88” parts beneficiary, was brought back to life by Bennett with a full and sympathetic restoration, passing its MOT at the first attempt, and was even awarded its original registration of SNX 891 back by the DVLA.
For a rare opportunity to see this delightful and thoroughly well-travelled Land Rover, complete with original patina and battle scars, and to hear the stories of its extraordinary life, repatriation and restoration from owner Adam Bennett, the Land Rover Legends event is on in the UK this May 26 and 27th.
Land Rover Legends
Land Rover Legends is a new format Land Rover show – proudly showcasing the icon in its 70th year, for connoisseurs, collectors, preservationists, restorers and enthusiasts alike to enjoy and celebrate. Organised by Historic Promotions – a historic motorsport, motoring, aviation and military events company, founded in 2010 by Duncan Wiltshire and Richard Grafton – the show will take place at Bicester Heritage.
Once a WW2 RAF bomber station, Bicester Heritage is now the UK’s only hub for historic motoring excellence, and with its buildings and airfield, provide a superb and unique setting.
Recent Historic Promotions events include Flywheel at Bicester Heritage, the Donington Historic Festival, the Dunsfold Collection Land Rover Show and the Bournemouth Wheels Festival.
For more information please visit: www.landroverlegends.com(link is external).
To read every story in the May 2018 issue of NZ4WD go to Zinio.com (April 13) or purchase your own hard copy at the Adrenalin store.
