In Billing 93 photo. Restored to CD Field Cable Party livery by Steven Myers — won Best 88" at Billing 93. Front cover LRO 9/95. At Shugborough 98 and Cheltenham 2008 (where above photo was taken).
Advertised for sale in Legend 147: "…complete with Brockhouse trailer, fitted out as original spec complete with pioneer tools, ladder, cable, selection of field telephones, collection of uniforms, toolbox containing brass blowtorch, hand tools, gloves etc. Gas masks, first aid kits, fire extinguisher, trailer-mounted cable layer, hand cable layer. Original instruction books and pamphlets from cold war era. Land Rover has original low mileage engine, gearbox and axles, tilt has been reproofed, chassis has been waxoiled and hammerited. Spares include two complete wheels, fuel pump, dynamo, radiator, oil filters, hood sticks, the seats are all original with a spare set of bases. This collection has won national prizes, and is for sale as a complete lot. £8000 ono.
In July 2010 the following advert appeared from Dunsfold Land-Rover:
Land Rover Series I 88 1957. MOT'd. Tidy presentable vehicle with good bulkhead and chassis. Ready to drive away. £9,250. Selling on behalf of a Customer.
Notified 17/3/12 by Alan Gray of the following advert from Inveraray, Argyll on the carandclassic.co.uk website (Price £9500):
(Pictures from Car and Classic website)
Being only the fifth owner of this little beauty I cannot stress how wonderful she is. Registered on 15/05/57, she was bought by the Home Office and issued to West Suffolk Civil Defence as a Field Cable Party Line Layer together with a Brockhouse two wheeled trailer which unfortunately I do not have. After being released by the Govt in 1968 she was purchased by a Hospital in Haselbeach, Northants who then sold her 10 years later in 1978 to Mr. P W Leeson of Brixworth, Northants. The last owner Mr S P Myers aquired her in May 1989.
Apart from a re spray, new tyres and tilt, all other parts are original and the chassis and bulkhead are in fine order. All her life she has been well cared for, with only 37958 miles now and just over 2000 miles in the last fourteen years! Her engine is the original 4 cylinder 2 litre petrol and apart from everything else she has push button start, original round Smiths heater, original (and rare) seats, original 3 spoke steering wheel. Fresh MOT and service just completed January 2012.
Having looked for a while for a good unmolested example, I purchased her in November 2010 from Dunsfold Landrover, who were selling her on behalf of the owner, and because of the reputation they have I was happy that I had made the right choice. She is now only for sale as I have other projects and it seems a shame that the old girl is not being used.
She is kept in a heated garage connected to a battery conditioner and is in excellent all round, sound condition with solid chassis and bulkhead as well as everything else. The two tow bars bolted to the front bumper have now been removed. They had been fitted by the last owner to hold a tow rope and for no other purpose.
I adore this little Land Rover and am certainly in no hurry to part with her, and if she does not sell then I will make time for her. Her moment of fame came when she made the front cover of Land Rover Owner international magazine (September 1995) — a copy of which I have.
I have no idea what price she made, who bought her, or at what stage she lost her rather marvellous Field Cable Party livery!
[To add (or alter) information on this page, please contact me on sxf@teeafit.co.uk.]