JUE 477: The World’s First Production Land-Rover - Julian Shoolheifer in conversation with Martin Port
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When award-winning restorer Julian Shoolheifer was tasked with breathing new life into the first production Land-Rover - chassis number one – few would have been bold enough to tackle the mammoth task that lay ahead.
Having spent half a century exposed to the ravages of time and the Northumberland weather, this remarkable vehicle – a milestone in the history of four-wheel-drive vehicles – would be the subject of a unique restoration at the hands of leading experts and overseen by the National Science Museum.
The resulting restoration not only met the brief to use as much of the original vehicle as was possible – employing new techniques and methods in the process – but immediately picked up the award for best 1940s vehicle at the Hampton Court Concours of Elegance upon its public debut in 2021.
Martin Port was the author and photographer tasked with recording the entire restoration as well as researching and documenting the history of this previously unsung hero of the Land-Rover world. The resulting book was shortlisted for both RAC Motoring Book of the Year and Publication of the Year at the Historic Motoring Awards, and we are delighted to have both author and restorer present to discuss this truly unique project.
