High & mighty

Land Rover took its 70th anniversary celebrations to new heights last month by visiting a remote rural community in West Bengal that relies on a fleet of classic models for its very survival.

Known as the ‘Land of Land Rovers’, the rural location in deep in the Himalayas is reliant on a fleet of meticulously maintained Series Land Rovers dating back as far as 1957.

A film (which you can check out yourself on https://youtu.be/YNXU1IR2LR8) highlights the spectacular 31km journey made often by residents of Maneybhanjang in West Bengal, India to Sandakphu for their means of living.

Towering gradients, rock-strewn pony tracks and treacherous weather are just some of the hazards faced on a daily basis by the residents and their Land Rovers on the journey to the hilltop village, which sits at an altitude of 3,636m.

Land Rover’s team visited the remarkable collection of Series models, which provides a vital role for the community as reliable and unstoppable all-terrain transport.

This year marks 70 years since the original Land Rover made its debut at Amsterdam Motor Show in 1948. Land Rover is marking this milestone with a series of celebrations throughout 2018, including a special broadcast, record-breaking convoys and a display in London’s Design Museum.

To read the full story in the October 2018 issue of NZ4WD go to Zinio.com (September 14) or purchase your own hard copy at the Adrenalin store.