Beschreibung:

Originally commissioned for Sir Ranulph Fiennes 1997 LAND ROVER WOLF DEFENDER 110 TRANSGLOBAL EXPEDITION VEHICLE Registration No. R653 BAC Chassis No. SALLDBA68VA120823 Engine No. 15LA1869 Metallic gold with grey cloth interior Engine: four cylinder turbocharged diesel, single overhead camshaft, 2 valves per cylinder, 111bhp at 4,000rpm; 2,495cc; Gearbox: five speed manual with high and low ratios and lockable differential; Brakes: four-wheel disc; Suspension; longitudinal arm with coil springs front and rear. Left hand drive. 'The World's most versatile vehicle' first saw the light of day in 1948 and was envisaged by the Wilks family, which controlled traditional car maker Rover, as an agricultural vehicle. Since then the Land Rover has achieved and maintained legend status in the automotive world and to this day is still the benchmark 4x4 vehicle. There can be few people that have never had some form of interaction or involvement with a Land Rover and it is for this reason that its cult status continues to grow across the globe. Whether they are delivering aid to children in Africa, transporting troops or simply taking the kids to school; Land Rovers can be found on every continent and have become an essential survival tool regardless how big or small the task in hand could be. When the much-heralded career explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes proposed a transglobal expedition, he needed to look no further than home when selecting suitable support vehicles of which it was decided that eight were required (one being a tractor unit). Over the years he had forged very strong links with Land Rover and convinced them to support the expidition. Built by Land Rover the brief was simple; build vehicles to suit the variety of climate changes and terrain they intended to cover, it was even expected to operate at temperatures up to -40 degrees centigrade. As such the basis was the extra heavy-duty military specification 110 inch 'Wolf' chassis which is not available for civilian purchase (the only means of acquiring such vehicles is by purchasing an ex-Army vehicle once decommissioned). With a focus on safety, and by specific request of Sir Ranulph, the vehicle features both internal and external roll cage custom designed by Motorsport cage specialists 'Safety Devices', and as one Aan see from the photos it forms an integral part of the vehicle's structure. A full length roof rack was added for obvious reason with four Hella spot lamps and a further three pivoting work lamps to provide dramatic illumination if necessary. Two spare wheels were fitted; one to the bonnet and one to the rear door, jackable box section sills were added and in the advent of flash floods or excessively deep river driving two snorkels were mounted on either front wing. A 5 tonne tow hitch adorns the rear an the sides house lockable storage compartments for storing water and fuel (despite the fact that twin fuel tanks were also requested. Given the diverse expectations, security remained a concern thus all doors have exterior-mounted door locks and the windows were reinforced and inside the vehicle there is a discreet battery cut-off switch and a safe. Inside the vehicle the seats remained stock but the rear is lined in foil-backed foam insulation and a large 'Silva' expedition compass is mounted on the middle of the dashboard. All six were painted gold and wore With all this it could seemingly go anywhere but it never left our shores. A team of Land Rover staff crewed one example on the 1998 Land Rover Fifty-50 Challenge but the remaining five were left 'all dressed up with nowhere to go' mothballing in Solihull until one turned up at a Land Rover auction. Knowing exactly what it was and having received a call from a dealer friend, Camel Trophy and expedition specialist Mike Robson bought the vehicle and over the next two years he acquired the remaining examples. The one we offer here is reputed to be the one Sir Ranulph had earmarked for himself, thus Mike re