1955 Land Rover Series 1
1955 Series 1 Land Rover
Engine - 1.6L Petrol
Transmission - Manual
Suspension - Leaf Spring
Equipped for - Touring & Off-Roading
So Winston, you’d be in your early 20’s right? How did you get your hands on a 1955 Series 1 Land Rover?
19 actually! About 3 years ago my old man picked me up from boarding school in his Land Rover, with a Series 1 on a trailer behind. He said “not sure what we will tell Mum”. Sure enough it grew on her, and it’s been around ever since haha.
We know that you and your family own a couple of Land Rover’s, so how does the Series 1 rate out of them all? Do you use it as a daily driver?
The Series 1 would definitely be up there! It’s cool to have a piece of history in the garage. As much as it could be a daily driver, it’s more of a weekend run about. Queenstown is a very diverse place, we are surrounded by mountains, lakes and rivers which are all accessible with the right kind of vehicle. To have the series 1 here means you can go anywhere! It’s as tough as nails and it never disappoints.
What’s your favourite thing about the series 1?
It’s honest, reliable, timeless, and it’s one of the most iconic vehicles ever built. It’s hard to say what my favourite thing about the series 1 is, but I am a big fan of the seats. A local guy here made them up and however strange orange seats may sound, I reckon it’s pretty cool. A good contrast between the old and the new! Another cool thing about the series 1 is its ability off-road. Although it may not look it, this truck has been places that a modern day truck simply wouldn’t. It's always fun towing someone out in this.
Images by Winston Brinsley