A very cool Series One story.

[Matt H]

So, as some are aware I've been busy downsizing my collection of Land Rovers. A couple of months ago two brothers expressed interest in the two of my Yellow 1957 Series One's that were just a single chassis number apart. One ending in 74 the other identical with the same chassis number but ending in 76. They purchased them and I was pleased to have them both go to the same family as I always thought that was rather rare to have two so close.

Very cool you might well say? Yes, but it gets better.

Turns out their farther is in possession of a Yellow 1957 Series One 88" with the same chassis number that ends in 75!

So after nearly 60 years and half a world away from the Solihull assembly line where these three units were built side by side in 1957, Chassis number 114703574, 114703575 and 114703576 are together again.

I do have one last Yellow Series One 1957 88" but it's chassis number is quite far removed from the others. I think they were imported for the Shell Oil company back in the 50's? I find one of the most fascinating aspects of early Land Rovers is not only the various quirks and inconsistencies in the original factory build but also the history of units themselves. As you can imagine many have lead a very interesting life in the last 60+ years.

As a side note the two brothers also purchased two more of my Series One's. Both 86".

[Matt H]

The chassis numbers.

[Trevor]

3 in a row, very cool indeed Matt!

What do you think, they all came over as local dealer units and then sold into the AB market? Or perhaps like your other unit, all bought as a corporate or government purchase?

Pretty slick that they are back together again.

[SpeedyJ]

I'd think that a fleet purchase is the most likely explanation. Most LRs were built to order at that time, no? So it would have been logical to build similar spec'd units as a batch - export, Canadian market, heaters....

[Red90]

http://www.lrfaq.org/Series/FAQ.S.chassis_numbering.1147.html

B 3554   114703573   08 May 1957   14 May 1957   Himpey Yellow   Rootes Motors ????
D 3535   114703574   28 May 1957   19 May 1957   Himpey Yellow   Rootes Motors Ltd., Vancouver
D 3536   114703575   27 May 1957   19 May 1957   Himpey Yellow   Rootes Motors Ltd., Vancouver
D 3537   114703576   20 May 1957   19 May 1957   Himpey Yellow   Rootes Motors Ltd., Vancouver
D 3538   114703577   21 May 1957   19 May 1957   Himpey Yellow   Rootes Motors Ltd., Vancouver
D 3539   114703578   29 May 1957   19 May 1957   Himpey Yellow   Rootes Motors Ltd., Vancouver
3514   114703579   21 May 1957   22 May 1957   Himpey Yellow   Rootes Motors, Houston
B 3518   114703580   15 May 1957   31 May 1957   Himpey Yellow   Rootes Motors, California
B 3519   114703581   10 May 1957   31 May 1957   Himpey Yellow   Rootes Motors, California
B 3525   114703582   09 May 1957   10 May 1957   Himpey Yellow   Rootes Motors, Oregon

[Matt H]

74 I found in southern Saskatchewan about ten years ago. 76 came to me from a scrap yard near Lethbridge about five years ago. The History before then I can only speculate as I've never been able to prove initial ownership. But fleet service seems likely given the unusual colour.

[Trevor]

http://www.lrfaq.org/Series/FAQ.S.chassis_numbering.1147.html

B 3554   114703573   08 May 1957   14 May 1957   Himpey Yellow   Rootes Motors ????
D 3535   114703574   28 May 1957   19 May 1957   Himpey Yellow   Rootes Motors Ltd., Vancouver
D 3536   114703575   27 May 1957   19 May 1957   Himpey Yellow   Rootes Motors Ltd., Vancouver
D 3537   114703576   20 May 1957   19 May 1957   Himpey Yellow   Rootes Motors Ltd., Vancouver
D 3538   114703577   21 May 1957   19 May 1957   Himpey Yellow   Rootes Motors Ltd., Vancouver
D 3539   114703578   29 May 1957   19 May 1957   Himpey Yellow   Rootes Motors Ltd., Vancouver
3514   114703579   21 May 1957   22 May 1957   Himpey Yellow   Rootes Motors, Houston
B 3518   114703580   15 May 1957   31 May 1957   Himpey Yellow   Rootes Motors, California
B 3519   114703581   10 May 1957   31 May 1957   Himpey Yellow   Rootes Motors, California
B 3525   114703582   09 May 1957   10 May 1957   Himpey Yellow   Rootes Motors, Oregon

Well that's rather handy

[Matt H]

Indeed. I didn't realize the yellow colour was called 'Himpey Yellow'? Looking at the table in the link it would appear that while not as popular as blue or green it was in fact a colour that was shipped all over the west coast of North America. They could still be fleet orders however to cater to post war oil exploration boom. I've seen a number of old black and white photographs with Land Rover Series One 88" in Shell Oil Co. livery that is light enough to possibly be 'Himpey Yellow'?

I wonder how many of these are still around?

[binch]

That is a GREAT story Matt, and the back up info from John.....That's very interesting to read about!!!    And to have you find those two and bring them together, then the two bothers finding them with you and then meeting the 3rd with their father....that is really KOOL!!!!    Makes you wonder about the degrees of separation.....

Great thread guys!!!!!