RE: Land Rover Series II Cuthbertson Classic: Spotted

RE: Land Rover Series II Cuthbertson Classic: Spotted

Tuesday 27th February 2018

Land Rover Series II Cuthbertson Classic: Spotted

The perfect way to battle the 'Beast from the East'



Some may be familiar with the Cuthbertson name, though many will not. Don't worry if you are in the latter group, it's quite niche knowledge, as evidenced by the fact that this is believed to be the only Cuthbertson Land Rover in the UK.

James A Cuthbertson was a visionary of his time, manufacturing rubber tracks during the Second World War and applying them to vehicles to build half-tracks, Land Rover conversions and the Water Buffalo - a tracked landing vehicle.

The Cuthbertson Land Rover was originally built for farmers who worked in uneven and hostile environments and this example was no different. This model was converted in 1958 when it was still new on a 109-inch chassis, this early Series II sported twist-type vents and a stalk-mounted horn. The track conversion meant fitting the Land Rover body to a subframe with the tracks attached. The wheels are replaced with wheel-sized sprockets to drive the tracks whilst a crankshaft-driven power steering system is needed to turn the vehicle. Inside it's as sparse as you would expect, with only the bare necessities making it perfect to be hosed down.


The models have even been used by the military for minesweeping operations as they were lighter than their heavily armourer counterparts, spreading their weight over a larger area, and making them less likely to trigger an explosion.

Numbers produced vary but it is estimated that only 20 conversions were done, with this particular example forming part of a Norwegian collection before being sold on to a German entrepreneur, who had it restored in 2000, before being sold at auction last year. Even though you may notice a number plate on this vehicle, it isn't legal to drive on-road - better to stick to muddy tracks and green lanes to show up even the most hardened off-roader.

So whether you want to put your off-road friends to shame, help the local villagers get to work during this cold snap or just fancy turning up to the family picnic in something that will blow every kid's mind, is there anything better?


SPECIFICATION - LAND ROVER SERIES II

Engine: 2,286cc, petrol 4cyl
Transmission: 4-speed manual, four-wheel drive
Power (hp): 68@4,250rpm
Torque (lb ft): 116@2,500rpm
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
First registered: 1958
Recorded mileage: 3,000 miles
Price new: N/A
Price now: £59,995

See the original advert here





Author
Discussion

wst

Original Poster:

3,494 posts

160 months

Tuesday 27th February 2018
quotequote all
Not road legal? I'm not sure the absence of roads will bother it much laugh

Triumph Man

8,670 posts

167 months

Tuesday 27th February 2018
quotequote all
I'm going to buy that and sleep with one eye on the phone

simont001

17 posts

178 months

Tuesday 27th February 2018
quotequote all
There was one parked outside the garage on the A85 to Crianlarich for many years - think it was the same model and colour.

Halmyre

11,148 posts

138 months

Tuesday 27th February 2018
quotequote all
There used to be a bright yellow one sat at the garage at Lix Toll on the A85 for many years. They've now got a 110 Defender with a more modern track conversion:

http://www.lixtoll.com/versatracks/

simont001

17 posts

178 months

Tuesday 27th February 2018
quotequote all
Ah, thats what I was thinking of

Brynjaminjones

120 posts

122 months

Tuesday 27th February 2018
quotequote all
Yup, that was still there when I stayed in Killin in December smile

CS Garth

2,860 posts

104 months

Tuesday 27th February 2018
quotequote all
I recall they have one at Gaydon - wonderful

alphahotelbravo

5 posts

206 months

Tuesday 27th February 2018
quotequote all
...and there was one used to sit at the back of the county roads department shed on Stranraer industrial estate - saw it in the mid-70's. The same shed had an AEC Matador and a Mack or White or similar, both kitted out as snowploughs.

tvrolet

4,251 posts

281 months

Tuesday 27th February 2018
quotequote all
simont001 said:
There was one parked outside the garage on the A85 to Crianlarich for many years - think it was the same model and colour.
Halmyre said:
There used to be a bright yellow one sat at the garage at Lix Toll on the A85 for many years. They've now got a 110 Defender with a more modern track conversion:

http://www.lixtoll.com/versatracks/
Brynjaminjones said:
Yup, that was still there when I stayed in Killin in December smile
Goddammit - planned to be the first/only smartass to reply that there used to be one on the A85 south of Crianlarach....only there are folks quicker off the mark then me frown Didn't they also used to have a red Snow Trac thingy there years ago too...or am I imagining that?

camel_landy

4,863 posts

182 months

Tuesday 27th February 2018
quotequote all
PistonHeads said:
...this is believed to be the only Cuthbertson Land Rover in the UK.
ISTR - There's one up at Gaydon, as part of the JLR Heritage Fleet.

...and a quick Google image search throws up a couple more.

M

ilovequo

775 posts

180 months

Tuesday 27th February 2018
quotequote all

imagineifyeswill

1,224 posts

165 months

Tuesday 27th February 2018
quotequote all
To my knowledge there are at least 3 off them in the UK.

Halmyre

11,148 posts

138 months

Tuesday 27th February 2018
quotequote all
camel_landy said:
PistonHeads said:
...this is believed to be the only Cuthbertson Land Rover in the UK.
ISTR - There's one up at Gaydon, as part of the JLR Heritage Fleet.

...and a quick Google image search throws up a couple more.

M
'believed to be...'; aye right, no doubt trying to bump up the price, although anyone who knows what the beast is isn't going to be fooled, so why the hyperbole?

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 27th February 2018
quotequote all
I bet the swivel pins last about 5 min with those tracks on...... ;-)

Cfnteabag

1,195 posts

195 months

Tuesday 27th February 2018
quotequote all
Also if it is not legal to drive on the road it is not legal to drive on a green lane!

RESSE

5,692 posts

220 months

Tuesday 27th February 2018
quotequote all
CS Garth said:
I recall they have one at Gaydon - wonderful
cool




Skyedriver

17,667 posts

281 months

Tuesday 27th February 2018
quotequote all
tvrolet said:
simont001 said:
There was one parked outside the garage on the A85 to Crianlarich for many years - think it was the same model and colour.
Halmyre said:
There used to be a bright yellow one sat at the garage at Lix Toll on the A85 for many years. They've now got a 110 Defender with a more modern track conversion:

http://www.lixtoll.com/versatracks/
Brynjaminjones said:
Yup, that was still there when I stayed in Killin in December smile
Goddammit - planned to be the first/only smartass to reply that there used to be one on the A85 south of Crianlarach....only there are folks quicker off the mark then me frown Didn't they also used to have a red Snow Trac thingy there years ago too...or am I imagining that?
There's one at the Lix Toll garage, stood there for all to see. Oh it's already been posted.
Regarding the LT recovery vehicle I posted a while ago about how courteous the driver was.
Well I followed him again on Sunday evening. Absolute gent of a driver. Thank you.

Geoffscars

97 posts

99 months

Tuesday 27th February 2018
quotequote all
There was one of these being used in courcheval 1850 last week to supply one of the mountain restaurants

andyps

7,817 posts

281 months

Tuesday 27th February 2018
quotequote all
Skyedriver said:
tvrolet said:
simont001 said:
There was one parked outside the garage on the A85 to Crianlarich for many years - think it was the same model and colour.
Halmyre said:
There used to be a bright yellow one sat at the garage at Lix Toll on the A85 for many years. They've now got a 110 Defender with a more modern track conversion:

http://www.lixtoll.com/versatracks/
Brynjaminjones said:
Yup, that was still there when I stayed in Killin in December smile
Goddammit - planned to be the first/only smartass to reply that there used to be one on the A85 south of Crianlarach....only there are folks quicker off the mark then me frown Didn't they also used to have a red Snow Trac thingy there years ago too...or am I imagining that?
There's one at the Lix Toll garage, stood there for all to see. Oh it's already been posted.
Regarding the LT recovery vehicle I posted a while ago about how courteous the driver was.
Well I followed him again on Sunday evening. Absolute gent of a driver. Thank you.
Is there a Pistonheader who hasn't seen the one at Lix Toll garage? First thing I thought of when I saw the "Spotted" item.

O/T - have you moved yet Skyedriver?

Greeneyelevin

11 posts

88 months