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LAN188001 - Edition 2,000

                                                                                                  1:43 Scale

Land-Rover Series 1 vehicles with the registration letters SXF were originally issued to the Civil Defence, Auxiliary Fire Service, and similar UK organisations in 1957-58. Many were stored before being sold off with low mileages. They are now probably the largest group of preserved vehicles of comparable age with similar registrations. This is the hard top version of the 88 inch Land Rover with improvements from the original HUE 166 Series 1 version. They carry door handles, different radiator configurations and the rear of the side doors are vertical, not slanted. The 80 inch wheelbase version was launched in 1948, in 1954 this was increased to 86 inches, A year later a 107 inch wheelbase appeared, both wheelbases were then extended by two inches to 88 inch and 109 inches respectively in 1956. There are a lot of variants on the Series 1 Land Rover and it would be apparent that modifications were made regularly. When we first started the project we asked to see a standard Series 1 version. By the time we had finished Rob and I were ‘punch drunk’. We spent a whole day confusing ourselves, we can honestly say we didn’t see two Land Rovers that were the same. Thank goodness Martin is here, he can worry about that in the future ! TAFF

Above information supplied by Graeme Aldous

For more information on SXF Land Rovers go to www.teeafit.co.uk/sxf/. This has plenty of facts and information.

(June 03): "SXF455 started life with the Civil Defence Corps at Desborough, Northamptonshire, but as yet I have not been able to find out anything of its in-service history. After the disbanding of the Civil Defence in 1968, the vehicle was acquired by Haringey Council and used as their fleet support tender. In the early 70's it was sold at auction and was used as a breakdown truck. In1975 it was bought by Tommy Robinson, of Nightingale Riding Stables, Chingford. He used it until 1985 when (after mechanical failure) it was parked up in the corner of his yard.

In 1992 it was sold to Martin Wedgwood, of South Woodford to be broken up for spares. I rescued it in 1994 when his wife decided she didn't want it as an ornament in her front garden any longer! After initially declining to make an offer on it due to its derelict condition, I agreed to take it in exchange for some work I did for Martin. A sane person wouldn't have attempted a restoration, but breaking it up just didn't seem right. The restoration took just over 4 years and it was returned to the road in July 1999. As the numerous layers of paint were being stripped, some of the original CD livery was found, confirming that it had been a Reconnaissance vehicle. The livery was re-created from these remnants and information from books and photographs. The restored vehicle is exhibited at a number of shows including LRe, LRW and LRO, and I am very proud of the fact that it is entirely my own work."    Russell Hearn