Once owned by Clive Higgins.
Front wings offered for sale on eBay, 08/07. Clive said:
A pair of original Series 1 front wings taken from a 1957 vehicle, they have been in the hayloft for 24 years. Judging by the layers of different coloured paint the Land Rover served time with just about every branch of the military [!?]. Obviously for parts from a vehicle of this age they are not pristine, but it would be a shame to throw them away as I am sure there is an enthusiast out there somewhere who could use them. They are really too big to post so I suggest they are collected from North Buckinghamshire.
(They sold for £31)
Following on from that ad, I managed to contact Clive, who told me the full story:
I owned the Series 1 SXF 132 for about 12 years during that time I completely rebuilt it — every nut bolt and screw was taken off refurbished and re-assembled.
The original engine was replaced by a 3.9 V8 and the many, many layers of paint were bead-blasted off and the vehicle was finished in Porsche Guards Red. From the outside it looked just like a 57 Series 1 (albeit bright red), but it went like a meteor. I used to go hunting yuppies in their Golf Gti's just to see the look on their face when they were out-accelerated by "an old Land-Rover". I retained the original engine, and all the bits taken out to facilitate the new V8 engine, just in case someone one day wanted to return it to original. I 'sold' it about 10 years ago — well it wasn't really a sale — a friend had always coveted it so I swapped it for a pair of Purdy guns. Given the value now of Purdies, it probably makes it the most expensive Series 1 ever sold!
Now we come to the really spooky bit — the guy I swapped it to sold it about 2 years ago, but today was the local Agricultural & Equestrian Show. Driving through a neighbouring village on the way to the show, there parked in Twyford was SXF132, now returned to its original Land Rover green and originality! How's that for coincidence? I couldn't find the owner/driver but left a card, so hopefully they will get in touch.
I will update here if he does.
[December 2016] — nothing new to report, but in the December 2016 issue of Land Rover Owner, this pic was included on the 'World of Land Rovers' page:
Clearly (bearing in mind what Clive Higgins said above) SXF132 is alive and well... and firing on both barrels!
[To add (or alter) information on this page, please contact me on sxf@teeafit.co.uk.]