Seen June 03 at a steam rally at Leighton Buzzard by Russell Hearn (SXF 455). Russell wrote:
The 88" Land Rover looked to be in quite original (well-used) condition and still has "Auxiliary Fire Service" sign written on the doors. It looked as if it was used as a tender vehicle for one of the steam engines. I wasn't able to find the owner or discover the chassis no.
In March 2015 Stuart Grey wrote:
This was my first car! My father bought it on 25 March 1971 from Girton Garage in Cambridge and it has remained with me and in my ownership ever since. It was first registered on 21 Feb, 1957. As far as I can remember the actual date on the chassis plate is earlier, but still February. It was registered to Secretary of State and again on 27 Aug 1963 to Warrington Corporation Fire Service, but it seemed to remain in strategic reserve since it came to us with a 1956 (off side door) and a 1957 (near side door) in place, and with only Auxiliary Fire Service on the off side door, as if all the doors were removed to have the letters removed. I painted them back on in later years. The mileage on the Land Rover was under 400 when my father purchased it. We first had it with a soft top, but when my wife wanted a car, I bought her a hard top! The Hard Top is ex-Home Office and ASF as well.
For a number of years we towed her behind our Traction Engine. I have a collection of old cars and steam engines and for the last 30 years SXF124 has rarely been on the road. In my time I have taken her all over France and the UK, although with her original engine it has still under 65,000 miles on the clock. The original buff log book has no detail of engine number.
SXF124 has resided with me in Hitchin, Herts since 1983 and before then Great Shelford in Cambridge. In the early days, when I was in the Army, we did use it on various Army Exercises on the battle area as we never seemed to have enough vehicles, so you can say it has had Military Service. Somewhere I have a photograph of her with a light Machine Gun mounted on the back and a load of squaddies in the back. Another photo I have shows her placed on her side with doors off and (acting) wounded soldiers spread about as part of a Casualty evacuation exercise! Real Dad’s Army stuff, but completely against regulations!
In 1980 I rebuilt the engine as the cam followers had very quickly deteriorated, only to find that the oil tubes were in the wrong way and so lubrication was little. Most of the engine was totally rebuilt and hasn’t been touched since and still runs well. I also replaced the rear cross member with a Series 2 one. In 2012 I decided to spend some money on her and the photos below were first taken when I delivered it to C & G Coachworks for a ground up restoration, although not concourse as I also like to retain some of the original patina if I can, so the original seat covers for example will remain. In the early days I had attempted to stop water coming in below the windscreen, so used some lead flashing to form a seal. This has undoubtedly saved the bulkhead. The chassis was in great condition, although we have replaced the rear cross member back to a Series 1 version.
So the old girl looks very different now. I have decided to keep the 1956 door and the 1957 door as that is part of the her history. I am really into keeping things as they are. But I am up to £12k now, so she is looking pretty good and will be home finished in September this year. That is the plan. The hard top we may paint all cream. Great vehicle, we call her ‘Little Giant’ and of all the vehicles we have in the family, SXF124 will remain with me and my son and grandson for many years to come. She has been with me for now 45 years!
In March 2016 Stuart sent the further pictures of the restoration completed. He wrote:
It will be out and used as it should now over the summer.
[To add (or alter) information on this page, please contact me on sxf@teeafit.co.uk.]