Page created: 1-Jun-06

Re-published: 28-Jul-11

Galleries

Heritage Collection

1954 Land Rover Series I fire engine

This vehicle was based on the 86 inch Series I chassis and only about 57 of this type were made, of which approximately 10 are believed to have survived. Rover only undertook conversion work during the first ten years of Land Rover production. After 1958 they decided that such specialised conversions were too expensive to build at the factory and began to put out conversion work to Carmichael and Son.

Much of the fire-fighting equipment is original, with the addition of one or two period pieces such as the brass standpipe. The vehicle was registered at Croyden to the Atomic Research Establishment, though the location of this body id not known. In 1971 the vehicle was sold out of Government service, in a poor state of repair due to fire damage. Further deterioration was caused both by neglect and the design of the fire-fighting equipment, which directed rain and tank water into the chassis. Its present owner has since carefully restored it.