Brilliant! Exceptionally cool that your Defender started as some sort of staff car on a UK base.
There are plenty of folks who are convinced their vehicles carry memories. Many of those same folks have given their vehicles names.
My Cherokee has no name but plenty of memories. At nearly a quarter million miles and a single pair of owners (my wife and yours truly), we have driven more than our share of back roads, dirt roads and forest service tracks that are officially (though hardly) roads. We have hauled firewood, lumber, stone and rucksacks in the back. Lise used it day and night working with the FBI while I traveled on horseback and various vehicles over N. Afghanistan.
My ‘91 Defender 110 has been sitting while I wait on parts from the UK to repair the left front brake pipe (line). From the MOT I can see that she had the rear brake pipes replaced years before but, unfortunately, the front has failed under my tenure. I miss driving her and the adventures even though this repair has been its own sort of adventure. Land Rover: turning owners into mechanics since 1948…. and I don’t mind at all…
This. All of it! Those of us who respond to such sentiment are the ones for whom owning a unique, characterful vehicle is a part of who we are. When the majority have all gone electric, because they’re only concerned with getting from A to B without even noticing their vehicle, there will still be those of us cherishing the visceral feel of these old (whatever ‘old’ qualifies for you) combustion charmers. I’m all for progress and tech and reducing climate impact, in fact hoping to skip EV altogether and enjoy a fuel cell body-on-frame 4x4 in my retirement years. But meanwhile I drive this ‘old’ 2016 Colorado with its characterful 2.8L turbodiesel. And yes… some portion of its existence is living “a life of quiet desperation going to and from the store, school runs, maybe the occasional vacation a few hours away” LOL.
Landies are for life - to have one in, to make the most of your time on this planet and also a lifetime of ownership. I’m living the dream 😊…. Ps I don’t know how you guys over the pond get away with not having a form of MOT 🙃🤣🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
It still runs admittedly with a few creaks and groans but it will never quit and that’s why it stays with us. A daily driver but no longer a long haul, road trip truck.
Like your Defender, it has been and continues to be a collector of memories.
Thanks for continuing to write wonderful, thoughtful pieces. Enjoy your holiday!
There is definitely a big overlap between old tool watches and old cars. The scratches, dents and scruff all tell a story and revive memories. These are real time machines. ( Music also has the same effect on me!)
The Land Rover Diaries is probably my favorite Swimpruf series. No matter how frivolous these vehicles may seem, don't ever sell them.
Hey mate - you know I’ll never sell mine… when I pass on, they’ll do a Viking burial for me in my 50th Anniversary 90🤣👍💪👌
Jason,
Brilliant! Exceptionally cool that your Defender started as some sort of staff car on a UK base.
There are plenty of folks who are convinced their vehicles carry memories. Many of those same folks have given their vehicles names.
My Cherokee has no name but plenty of memories. At nearly a quarter million miles and a single pair of owners (my wife and yours truly), we have driven more than our share of back roads, dirt roads and forest service tracks that are officially (though hardly) roads. We have hauled firewood, lumber, stone and rucksacks in the back. Lise used it day and night working with the FBI while I traveled on horseback and various vehicles over N. Afghanistan.
My ‘91 Defender 110 has been sitting while I wait on parts from the UK to repair the left front brake pipe (line). From the MOT I can see that she had the rear brake pipes replaced years before but, unfortunately, the front has failed under my tenure. I miss driving her and the adventures even though this repair has been its own sort of adventure. Land Rover: turning owners into mechanics since 1948…. and I don’t mind at all…
And by the way Jason… bonus points for the old school yellowish incandescent headlights.
This. All of it! Those of us who respond to such sentiment are the ones for whom owning a unique, characterful vehicle is a part of who we are. When the majority have all gone electric, because they’re only concerned with getting from A to B without even noticing their vehicle, there will still be those of us cherishing the visceral feel of these old (whatever ‘old’ qualifies for you) combustion charmers. I’m all for progress and tech and reducing climate impact, in fact hoping to skip EV altogether and enjoy a fuel cell body-on-frame 4x4 in my retirement years. But meanwhile I drive this ‘old’ 2016 Colorado with its characterful 2.8L turbodiesel. And yes… some portion of its existence is living “a life of quiet desperation going to and from the store, school runs, maybe the occasional vacation a few hours away” LOL.
Landies are for life - to have one in, to make the most of your time on this planet and also a lifetime of ownership. I’m living the dream 😊…. Ps I don’t know how you guys over the pond get away with not having a form of MOT 🙃🤣🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
Ministry of Transport, old fruit, none of this Transportation over here in Blighty.
It still runs admittedly with a few creaks and groans but it will never quit and that’s why it stays with us. A daily driver but no longer a long haul, road trip truck.
Like your Defender, it has been and continues to be a collector of memories.
Thanks for continuing to write wonderful, thoughtful pieces. Enjoy your holiday!
JR
There is definitely a big overlap between old tool watches and old cars. The scratches, dents and scruff all tell a story and revive memories. These are real time machines. ( Music also has the same effect on me!)