1947 Land Rover Center Steer

[ANDYD]

1947 ‘Centre Steer’ – a replica of the first Land Rover

Engine type: 1,495 4 cyl Petrol
Gearbox type: 4 Speed

Vehicle spec:
This is a replica built in 2005 of the very first Land Rover which was built in 1947. The first car, known as the ‘Centre Steer’, was a possible answer to creating a vehicle that would serve both RHD and LHD markets. However, because the engine was mounted in the north/south position the steering layout gave very little legroom and the idea was dropped very early on. The first 80” Land Rover reverted to a normal steering layout.

In common with the original vehicle, the chassis, axles, steering and body fittings are from a Jeep – in the case of the Replica a 1942 Canadian vehicle. It was built by ‘Paintman Bill’ on a very limited budget in a lean-to shed and is a fine reproduction.

The Collection purchased the vehicle and completed a number of minor jobs to bring the vehicle into line with additional details that were uncovered when a cache of previously-unseen photographs of the original were discovered.

Only one Centre Steer was built and it remains the Holy Grail for Land Rover enthusiasts. However, the consensus is that the original was reconverted back into a Jeep and used on the Wilks family estate.

[BlkP38]

Hello Andy,
By “Collection” are you referring to Phil Bashall’s Dunsfold Collection? And are you saying it was built in Canada? When viewing this car with Phil I was left with the impression that they built it.
And now, to add to the lore, 10 years back while working in South Africa I responded to an ad for an old Landy in Capetown. Phoned and was told it was gone, but in talking with the lady she said that her deceased hubby had mentioned that it had unusual rounded front wings!

[ANDYD]

Hi,

Yes the Collection is referring to the Dunsfold Collection.
I believe the Canadian connection was only that they used parts from a Canadian Jeep to build the replica.
Ha, yes it would be interesting is the original found its way to South Africa, you never know .........

Cheers
Andy

[dkenner]

There is another centre steer replica in Vermont (USA) which Jim Macri built. It is pretty magnificent too. It has appeared at the British Invasion at Stowe a number of times.

[ANDYD]

Thanks, that's good to know. Didn't know there was another one on this side of the pond. Maybe one day we can get it to visit us in the North west!

Is it the same colour? Any photos?

[dkenner]

A couple photos of it are on the front cover and page 8 in this PDF. Somewhere I have a pile of them that I took.

https://www.ovlr.org/nl/PDF/ovlr_nl_201711.pdf

I believe there is a third replica too.