Now re-registered with American number. Previous owner C Hudson Chadwick, a noted artist from Mississippi, USA.
For sale on eBay America November 2010, from Carthage, Mississippi. Description:
Original 1957 Land Rover (British) — "Civil Defense Corps Reconaissance" marked in original paint on both sides. 64,284 miles. Runs and drives. Brought over to U.S. in 1966 and issued first U.S. title. Has
initial issue British plates. No body rust. Buyer responsible for pick-up and transport.
The purchaser was Ed Bounds, who wrote:
The person I got it from said it had sat for ten years before he got it. He really didn't do anything of consequence to it since he has had it. I say that, but he did put on a non-Rover starter, maybe new spark plugs, an electric fuel pump, an inline fuel filter, some new fuel lines and installed an outboard motor gas tank in the location of the stock tank!!! All that said, he did get it running, keep it out of the rain and keep pretty good care of it. He gave me the old fuel tank and its guts (not real bad shape,about 10 pea-size and dime-size holes here and there). As they would say in Texas, "she (or he) has been rode hard and put up wet!" Needs some tender loving care!
I am not sure that I am up to the task of doing the type of work that it is going to require to put SXF858 back in the shape he should be in, but I am going to try little by little. As doctors say, "the first thing and most important thing, is to do no harm!" That will be my motto on this project.
Ed also has a Series 3 Lightweight, restored in the livery of 212 Battery Royal Artillery (V).
In May 2015, Ed placed 858 on eBay, saying:
I have decided to sell my 1957 Land Rover Series 1. It is a RHD 88” hardtop with its original 2.0 Liter petrol engine. The engine, both front and rear axle casing and the gearbox numbers are of the series appropriate for a my 1957 'Home R.H.D. Series 1 88” Petrol' according to the 1948-1957 Land Rover Workshop Manual. My chassis number also matches the data plate number in the cabin of the vehicle.
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SXF858 was originally purchased by the British government Home Office and used as a Civil Defence Reconnaissance vehicle in the Cornwall district during the Cold War era. It still bears both its front and rear registration plates, SXF858, as well as its Civil Defence marked hardtop. The door tops still faintly retain their original 'Reconnaissance' lettering. Inside the hardtop just above the passenger side back window is a tray marked 'aerials' indicating the vehicle was originally equipped with radios as a part of its reconnaissance role with the Civil Defence.
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The Series 1 starts and drives well. It has a four-speed manual transmission with a high and low range. It shifts without problem and the four wheel drive works properly. This vehicle is 58 years old and has been out of production since 1958 when the Series 2 production began. As do all old Land Rovers, this one leaks some oil in all of the normal places. It also drips some antifreeze from the water pump gasket (I believe) and I have been told that this may or may not diminish when it is driven more often than I drive it. There is surface rust on the chassis but I have yet to find anything near what I would call 'rot'. It has a good solid chassis! I basically drive it to my local coffee shop once in a while and will drive it in an occasional parade or display it at our local air show.
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For some reason, the prior owner had it titled as a 1966 and I did not try to get that cleared up when I bought it. I bought it originally to be used on the farm and I didn’t really care about the date discrepancy. In the bill of sale I got from the previous owners, it clearly lists the vehicle’s VIN and that it is a 1957. Interestingly, the SXF858 was originally owned by noted Mississippi artist C.Hudson Chadwick!
Apart from the first two, the pictures above are taken from Ed's eBay advertisement. He has many more, including ones that show beyond doubt that the vehicle was 'Reconnaissance' — the left-hand front passenger's seat has been moved outwards by two inches, in exactly the same way as my SXF870, and was to allow for a radio set to be placed in the centre seat position. Clues are the rubber buffer positioned right alongside the triangular strengthening plate ar the end of the centre bulkhead. There are also the holes at the top of the bulkhead where the thick cables came through for the multi-way sockets for the radio.
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The car has now been sold — Ed told me "Gentleman is originally from Wales. SXF858 is to be his wife's Rover! She was excited!"
In late June 2015 I received an email from Kimberly Bufton in Galveston, Texas. She said:
I am the 'excited wife' that Ed Bounds has mentioned. My first Land Rover!.. and what a remarkable history I am discovering!
My husband John is very familiar with Land Rovers and is guiding me thru the restoration process. 'Swivel pin' has become part of my vocabulary and I was elated when new parabolic springs showed up in the post.
Sorry, Kimberly... but you've been irrevocably bitten! Pretty soon your blood will turn Deep Bronze Green, and then you'll be a real Land-Rover nut. Welcome to the clan.
On Boxing Day 2015, Kimberly emailed again with an update:
SXF858 has been receiving TLC and new parts this year. After clearing the title and registration, new parabolic springs and OME shocks were fitted. The rear differential has been rebuilt with TruTrack and installed
in October. Water pump replaced in November and December has the Roverdrive installation as the highlight. Other odds and sods were performed too.
Kimberly is looking for advice on recreating the CD crest and lettering — can anyone offer any help?
Nearly 2 years later, in December 2017, I had an email from Cornish police historian Mark Rothwell, attaching this excellent picture:
Mark says that:
I only know it was taken in Cornwall, possibly Bodmin Moor as this was near Police HQ, and it was routinely used by police forces for Civil Defence training. The officer in the van is likely being tutored as his sergeant
looks on. Wireless radio was quite new-fangled for the Cornish police, and it wasn't until 1958 that Bodmin HQ could communicate with every police car across the county.
Mark says that he has access to many hundreds of classic police car photos, many of which aren't captioned — if he finds any more SXF ones, he promises to send them. Note that this picture doesn't reflect Civil Defence practice, where a smaller radio set was kept in the front on the centre seat (as has already been confirmed for 858 above). I think that this is a police radio setup, installed after demob from the Home Office. I'm very interested to see the interior light because it's the same design as the one fitted in our SXF870, but the glass dome was lost. Then after many years I found a suitable one at an auto-jumble, and this picture confirms that it's correct.
[Note that it's a quirk of UK vehicle licencing that the majority of emergency service vehicles, such as Ambulance and Fire & Rescue, are registered in non-taxation classes, as were Civil Defence. But for some reason Police vehicles have to be taxed, paid by the constabulary that owns them.]
After seeing that picture, Kimberley said:
Brilliant! So very kind of Mark to provide the photo and a bit of history. To think of SXF858 being used for radio training and mucking about Bodmin Moor, brings me joy and a giant smile! Unfortunately the overhead
light is gone but the holes remain — such is a Land Rover. With [Mike] Mason's generous assistance, the crest is on the doors!
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[To add (or alter) information on this page, please contact me on sxf@teeafit.co.uk.]