The Rover-Landers of BC

After selling my 1956 86” in 1999 I’m finally back into these slow, slab sided beauties. I called about this truck and was apparently the first to call and the original owner (George) liked my enthusiasm about these trucks! He had a wait list of 27 people and a few people willing to pay way more than he was asking. But, as he told me, when we were sitting in his living room it wasn’t about the money it was knowing it would be brought back to life and used.
He bought the truck in 1989 from a fellow in Ladysmith and kept it at his property in Horne Lake as a runabout to clear the property and build a cabin. Cool guy for sure. I’m hoping my son George can learn to drive on this truck in 9yrs!
I’ve found the build date for the truck which was started November 8 and off the line November 14, 1955 then it was shipped to Rootes, Vancouver.
Plan is to get it running and rebuild the entire brake and steering systems. The frame has a few scars from various rock hits but it’s solid and serviceable. Essentially make it safe to drive then cleanup areas while using it. I love the body and don’t plan on changing it, but it will need some reinforcement and dent repairs! The winch is a Braden PTO drive and looks to be installed professionally. There’s a massive chain drive from the gearbox powering the winch driveshaft. It must add a couple hundred pounds to the front of the truck though!

Matt

Good to see this fine old truck has landed in good hands that will enjoy and care for it. I can see why there was a line up to buy it.

Great to see that it won't be parted out and used for what it's meant for. Maybe we'll see it at the rally in June??

Did it stay at Horne Lake until you bought it?

It hasn’t moved under its own power in 7yrs, so I’m taking my time making sure the engine isn’t seized and the valves are adjusted correctly before trying to start it. It does have a Petronix electric ignition fitted to the 25D which it nice. I think it was parked at the owners house in Lantzville for the last few years, judging from the amount of rat droppings and pee inside there was defiantly an adventurous rat family living in it for quite a while. It will need all new seats and a thorough washing out for sure!

Matt

Another one added to the collection, looks amazing good luck!
I’ll have to drop by and check it out in person.

Can't wait to see this back up at Horne Lake again bombing around the logging roads with mine! ;)

DrRangelove wrote:Can't wait to see this back up at Horne Lake again bombing around the logging roads with mine! ;)

For sure Dave!
I asked him if he’d seen your truck up there but he hasn’t. He has an 88” up there now I believe.

I managed to get it started yesterday. It idled, but the solex carb will need rebuilding for sure. I have a Weber I’ll fit for now to get the engine running smoothly. The oil pressure gauge works and the engine was showing around 30psi @ idle and had no major knocks. The generator works as do the lights. Not bad for sitting for 6+yrs. I’m hoping to get it to a point where I can move it around my yard under its own power then I’ll start rebuilding the major components. Everything on this truck will need redoing; steering, brakes, fuel system,etc....
I’m hoping I can have it ready for the Rally in the valley in June, we’ll see.....
I found out a little more information on the winch as well. It’s a Braden PTO u3-10 which is rated at 6000lb, although it looks like it could pull over a house! The serial number in the winch dates the winch as a 1955 model so this very well could have been fitted by the original owners. A lot of work was done to fit this winch, the Pto drive has a chain drive added to power the shaft running down the right side of the engine and the front frame has been extended about 10” to accommodate the giant winch mount. It is seriously over built with 1/4” and 3/8” plate steel and must make steering this thing interesting to say the least.

Matt

Cool looking old Land Rover Matt, nice addition to the family. Do you think it was a company truck (logging?) in the past? Quite the winch, must of had a real purpose in the good old days..

The fellow I purchased it off of said the previous owner told him it was originally an RAF truck, but I’m not 100% convinced that’s true. The colour it was originally is called RAF blue so there may be some confusion about that in its history. I would think it was most likely a forestry or lands and mines truck. It was shipped new to Rootes in Vancouver and I’m guessing the royal air force wouldn’t be buying trucks off a car lot!

Matt

Not RAF. Possibly RCAF, but as you point out not likely they bought it from a dealer. And, RCAF equipment was generally aligned with American stuff. I’ve never seen an RCAF Land Rover, but it would be cool. I’m betting logging, mines or some other resource sector.
Thinking about that giant winch... you’d be likely to drag the truck before you hit its maximum pull!