It was my Birthday recently and I realized that it was 50 years ago since we got our first Land Rover. But what was even crazier was the number of Land Rovers that had passed through our family since then. You won’t believe it but there have been 50 Landies in 50 years.
50 Land Rovers in 50 years! How is that even possible ? Its quite easy with a family like mine, since our first Land Rover in 1974 until now in 2024 there have been 50 Land Rovers.
In fact you can even separate out this 50 years into distinct periods. The first 25 years were the Series years and then we entered the Range Rover years. This was quickly followed by the Defender years and then the Discovery years. And now after 50 years we have come full circle as we re-enter the Series years again.
Right now we still have 17 of those 50 Landys and best of all we still have the very first one so lets start there.
The Beginning and the Series Years
#1 The First One Series 2A LWB – 1973
Number one is a 1973 Series 2A LWB that my Dad bought new towards the end of 1973. It is the one that started everything. Had my Dad not bought this back in those days we may never have landed up with any of the others. I have done a full video on this Landy so check it out on YouTube.
For more than 10 years this was our only Land Rover that took us everywhere. We went on many trips around southern Africa and attended many rallies and events at the Land Rover Club over that time. It always takes just one Landy and we were well and truly a Land Rover family. But in the mid 80’s that started to change because something big happened.
The South African Defense Force was a big user on Land Rovers like many other military forces around the world. The SANDF started to auction off the older used and sometimes unused Land Rovers.
#2-6 Forward Control 2B – 1982
Number 2 to Number 6 where the crazy forward control years. These Forward controls were the best bargains of all from the SANDF. Whereas the normal Landies were very well used these Series 2B Forward Controls were virtually unused. Often with less than 100km on the clock. So my Mom and Dad bought and sold quite a few of those. They literally crammed our pavement.
But one of them stuck around and became our overland camper for almost 10 years. Affectionately known as Fordie, this Forward Control 2B was the primary camping vehicle for the family between 1982 and 1992. Despite being very slow it was very comfortable for four. Big enough to comfortably fit all of us in and capable of going anywhere. This FC also went all over including Botswana, Transkei and Malawi. It was eventually sold to a British couple to travel through Africa.
#7 Brown Bolt 1966 Series 2A SWB – 1984
Number 7 is the short wheelbase in this picture which became known as Brown Bolt. Initially it was bought for Brian and I to fixup which we did. But later it became my first Landy. I owned this 1966 2A for over 20 years through the end of my school years, university and into my early working years. We had some fantastic trips and created many memories in it. This Landy is still around and owned by one of my best friends. I have also done a video on it previously check the description below or the link on screen
#8 Rushmeres caboose – 1984
Number 8 was an army caboose that was bought for British friends of ours. They rebuilt it into a basic camper with the assistance of my parents , it’s the vehicle in the back of this picture.
#9 Blue Series 3 SWB – 1985
Number 9 was Brians Series 3 SWB . So Brown Bolt became mine and Brian had Blue. This was an amazing little Landy that Brian owned for over 30 years and used as his daily drive. It had many different looks and engine setups. It’s a story that you really have to hear. This Landy did lots of offroading, got turbo charged, had brake assisted traction control, got converted to diesel, was a hard top, a soft top and a pickup and then still took part in the 50th Land Rover tour in 1998. Checkout my Life of Adventure article where Brian tells us these stories.
#10 Red one Series 2A SWB – 1992
Number 10 was a SANDF Series 2A SWB that I restored painted red and sold to make money for my upcoming camper build
#11 Brians Camper Series 3 LWB – 1992
Number 11 is Brians Series 3 109 overland camper that he built to travel through Africa. This was a serious expedition vehicle with the Falcon 2.5 TD engine, ARB diff lockers front and back, roll cage, 3 fuel tanks and fully kitted camper inside.
#12 Govenelles 2A LWB
Number 12 was a Series 2A build done for a French couple who were friends of my parents, it was also ex military
#13 Brown caboose Series 2 A – 1992
Number 13 was the Brown Caboose. This was the next major camper build that my parents did. The FC had become too big as we had grown up and started travelling in our own vehicles. A compromise between a normal LWB and a Forward control meant lots of space and comfort inside, with good manoeuvrability and fair cruising speed. This was a standard 4 cyl Series 2A from the military that was converted into a camper. This vehicle also did many trips all over Southern Africa between 1992 and 1998.
#14 Dad 1957 Series 1 88″ – 1995
Number 14 was a very special one because it was the first Series 1 in the family. My Dad bought it to restore to be used to lead the Land Rover 50th anniversary tour in 1998 which covered 10 000km around South Africa. Checkout the article of this amazing Land Rover Tour here. This was a 1957 88” Series 1. This vehicle was completely rebuilt back to fully original except that the interior was build into a camper. Iy was a one of a kind and my parents travelled around Southern Africa for over 2 months in this little Landy. It stayed in the family for many years after that until eventually being sold.
#15 Lemon Series 2A Extra Long LWB Camper– 1996
Number 15 is my 1968 Series 2A extra long LWB that I built as an overland camper. It was a complete rebuild with lots of modifications. I also fitted a Falcon 2.5TD with a Fairey overdrive and converted the inside into a fully self sufficient camper. I did an article and full video on this rebuild. We did many trips in this vehicle to Botswana, Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
#16 Shelley Purple S3 SWB – 1996
Number 16 was Smartie and belonged to my sister in law Shelley who rebullt this Series 3 SWB. It was 21/2 diesel and unique with its purple paint. It was eventually sold to an American friend who exported it to the USA.
The Range Rover Years
#17 Shelley Range Rover – 1998
Number 17 was the first Range Rover and it was a 1982 2 door Range Rover classic. This vehicle was purchased as an incomplete restoration that was completed by Brian and Shelley. This vehicle is powered by a GMC 6.2l V8 diesel run through a 4 speed GMC auto box.
#18 Dad Range Rover – 1998
Number 18 was by far the most luxurious vehicle in the family. Used as daily transport by Mom and Dad this 1990 3.9 EFI Range Rover Classix resulted in the exit of the last normal car from the family.
#19-20 Army caboose rebuild and Army 2a station wagons – before 1999
Number 19 was another army caboose and number 20 was this really neat and original station wagon that was sold to a friend of a friend who intended on restoring it.
#21 Army SWB S3 – Before 1999 – 2001 Green rebuilt
Number 21 was another Series 3 army 88” that was rebuilt into a nice green names strange days and was sold on to a friend of Brians.
#22 Brian BDF 110 – 1999
Number 22 was the first Defender into the family, a 1986 110. It was Brian’s third Land Rover and was used as his daily transport. This vehicle was originally a Botswana Defence Force pick-up powered by a 2.5l petrol engine, but since converted to a 2.5l TD.
#23 Brian 4 door RR classic -1998 (Blue 4 door range Rover – 1999?)
Wanting a more comfortable daily driver Brian sold this Defender to make way for Number 23 a Blue 4 door Range Rover classic
The Defender Years
#24 Jack – 1999
Number 24 was 2 year old 1997 D90 Tdi CSW, finally my dream car arrived! I traded in my car and sold brown bolt my 88” to help pay for this Defender which was used as as my daily transport drive. JCK (alias Jack) was pampered and looked after, pretty much a “Sandton” landy. In the end he also underwent a brief “camper” conversion for away trips.
But Jack really proved his worth though in the recovery of an old Series I 107″ from a hill top near Pongola.
#25 Oom piet – 2000
That brings me to my most favourite Landy of all number 25. Despite owning this Landy for 24 years I had never driven it until just the other day. That’s because for 20 years it stood waiting for restoration and now 6 years later I have finally restored it. This is my 1955 Series 1 107 pickup. If you have visited my channel before you will have seen some of my restoration videos. If you haven’t then please checkout the full story of how I have brought this amazing old Land Rover back to life. I am looking forward to many more years of driving this Land y as it hits the road.
#26 Green caboose – 2000
Number 26 is the second army caboose camper build done by my parents. This was the last camper build and used by Mom and Dad for their overland trips. It was powered by a 2.5l TD engine with a Fairy overdrive. After the Falcon TD eventually gave up they put a 300Tdi engine making it a great overlander. I recently saw an add for this vehicle , still looking in great condition.
#27 Armoured 110 – 2000
Number 27 was an armoured 110 that Brian bought and then eventually sold
#28 Defender 6×6 rebuild – 2001 – 2014
Number 28 was Brians latest camper project. It was a chassis up rebuild with just about everything being custom made. The final result was a 6×6 Defender/Series Land Rover powered by an automatic GMC 6.2l diesel engine. It was sold as a work in progress
#29 Millbug – 1998-2002
Number 29 was the most fun Landy project that we have ever done. The Millbug was a purpose built rally/trial vehicle. The chassis originally from a SIIA 109″ FC was shortened to 100″. The rest of the vehicke was built up from bits and pieces and it was powered by a Rover V8. I did some separate videos on this vehicle build and some of the offroading that we did in it, make sure you check those out on this channel.
#30 Yellow D90 – 2003
Number 30 was my first and only brand new Land Rover purchased. It was a 2003 Defender 90 TD5 CSW. The best part of it was the bright yellow colour.. It was a replacement for Jack, and meant to become a complete all rounder hence the name Action Jack. It was a brighter bolder more modern version of my 109 camper which I had sold to by this one. I had kitted this D90 out to do all my trips in as well as drive every day.
#31 Alan 1997 D110 Tdi – 2005
Number 31 was my 5th Land Rover and the one and only Defender 110. After relocating to the cape and starting a mountain bike touring business I needed something bigger than my D90 to carry guests and gear. The Defender 110 was perfect for the job. I later refurbished this vehicle and gave it a second lease of life.
The Discovery Years
#32 Shelley Disco – 2006
#33 D130 green – 2007 – 2015 – 2023
#34 Vlakvark – 2008
Number 34 was a game viewer conversion that was done on an army Caboose for family living next to the Kruger Park
#35 6×6 – 2008
#36 Red D90 – 2009
#37 King Julian – 2010
At number 37 is a Landy who started out being called “onderstebo” which is Afrikaans for upside down. That is because that’s how Brian found it, upside down. This Defender 110 became King Julian a bright Green Defender 110. It was Brians daily drive and fitted with all of his Madman developments accessories and upgrades. It also participated in one of the first Defender trophy events.
#38 Alan Disco 3 – 2013
#39 Dean Discovery 1 – 2014
#40 Brian 110 V8 being rebuilt – 2018
#41 Green Series 2a diesel station wagon – 2018-2022
This 110 was part of a package deal bought with number 41 a Series 2A diesel station wagon. After fixing up all the mechanical issues on this it was sold.
#42 Green 2.8 D90 – 2019
When Brian owned the Landyonline workshop he came across this Landy and that was a non runner at the time. After fixing it up it was resold.
#43 Charlie X 2A SWB – 2022
#44 Green D90 – 2022
#45 110 bakkie with Nissan RD28 – 2023
#46 Rudi Disco – 2024
#47 Green 300Tdi Disco for Body swop
#48 Simon Nelson 300Tdi Brian
#49 Series 2 SWB – 2024
#50 The Forgotten R6
This ex army R6 was rebuilt and resold by my Dad in the 1990s.
I was completely amazed when I sat down and made this list up. But it is quite remarkable that after having bought and sold so many Land Rovers over the last 50 years that the very first one is still with us. There is no doubt that there will be a few more in the years to come as our respect and admiration for the now classic Series landies has returned in the last few years.
Watch the full video at The Overland Legend on Youtube
