- Rovers In Motion -

Is your Defender ready for Summer Adventure?

Jay's 1999 Defender 110 TD5 Station Wagon has been getting a few upgrades over the Winter. Looks like you're ready to go Jay!

Rover In My Rear View

On the Value of your Series Rover.

In the Eye of the Beholder.

"Dad! You drive like an old man! That was my youngest daughter's observation when I took her for a quick drive in my '74 Series 3. Yep... I was slouched forward, knees up close to my elbows, my hands on the steering wheel at 10 and 2 o'clock. I guess I did look like an "old man". The fact that I'm closer to sixty than to fifty, and that I have six grand-children, (two belonging to the youngest, and four belonging to our oldest daughter), could mean that I am an "old man". But, it's a big steering wheel, and it feels more comfortable with my hands up on top of it, and at five-foot eleven, my knees are uncomfortably high. But, I love it!

To me, my scruffy looking Series 3 just feels right as I drive country roads from home to the shop, and back at night. I can't drink coffee while driving it, (I have arrived at the shop a few times with a big wet spot - really looking like the "old man"), can't hear the cell phone ring, and I like it that way.  That's value to me!

A few weeks ago, I had a call from my insurance company saying that their records show the value of my '74 to have increased significantly over the past few years. Of course, they're just after a higher premium; but I have seen the increase in the market, particularly since Jaguar Land Rover announced the end of the Defender production. So I negotiated a middle-of-the-road value for Olive, ("Olive" is the name of my '74), to keep my premiums down, and to cover the potential cost of ever having to replace her. The insurance "value" of a scruffy, old truck.

A few months back, we helped a customer sell their '55 Series 1 86". Initially, we thought their asking price might be a little on the high side. To our surprise, it wasn't. Even more surprising was who bought it, and where it went to. The Canadian contact, (we'll call him the "agent"), was quite secretive about who the buyer was, right up until the truck was loaded on a container, bound for an over-seas trip, back to where the truck was originally manufactured in Solihull. Yes, it went to Jaguar Land Rover Classic, the Heritage division that is restoring classic Land Rovers. When they are finished, according to media reports, it may sell for £60,000 to £80,000. (Nope, those aren't dollars, they're British Pounds - do the math). Wow! We didn't see that coming!

Series and Defender Land Rovers are in the unique group of cars that actually appreciate in value over time. You don't see the Ford F150, Dodge Ram or Chevy Silverado appreciating in value. For that matter, I know that my 2004 Discovery, with 275,000kms on it, is worth... well, less than Olive which is 30 years older. On the other hand, we Land Rover owners need to keep in mind that it is a Land Rover... not a Jaguar, or Lotus, or Ferrari, or Lamborghini. It's a Land Rover, a very well-engineered, ultilitarian 4x4. Built in an era where things were meant to last. And unlike the afore-mentioned classic cars, meant to be driven, on the weekends, or even daily. That's where value meets pleasure. It doesn't need to sit in a garage, with a cover over it, waiting for the mid-summer, driest day, to be started, warmed-up and then put back under shelter. 

So that investment you made in that old Land Rover... probably not a bad move at all. You can have the best of both worlds; driving a Classic along a bumpy country road on the way to work, and knowing that the value of the investment is probably going up.

For me ... it's the morning drive - that's the only "Value" this "Old Man" is interested in right now.

Customer Adventures and Links

See What Other's are up to in their Restoration Adventures!

Turning a rough looking old wreck found in a field into a head-turning Land Rover dream machine takes a lot of work and ingenuity. Barry and Karen did just that, and found themselves as the center of attention and prize winners.

Check Out the Customer Adventure Section!

Mike's Blog - A Restoration Guide!

If you are thinking of getting into a restoration project of your own, Mike, who hails from Kingston Ontario, has an excellent Blog Site demonstrating the work that needs to go into a complete frame-up restoration of a Series Land Rover. Mike recently took his beautifully restored 1960 Series 2 on it's first of many road trips!

An Artistic Dedication to 3 Brothers

and one of their Classic finds

A few years ago, one of the 3 Brothers decided to try his hand at some "artistic" work, combining his welding skills with his recent foray into blacksmithing. Rich never imagined that it would turn into an immediate success. It did, and his time was suddenly in demand by galleries thoughout Canada.

Artistic sculptures made of stainless steel, antique square nails, copper wire, stone, and glass were flying off the shelves faster than his torch could heat up the next piece of metal. 

But Rich did take some time to create a special piece. As an anniversary gift, Peter's wife commissioned Rich to produce a sculpture commemorating one of the the 3 Brother's early adventures; the bringing home of a Classic 1956 Land Rover Series 1 107" Station Wagon.

That's Peter behind the wheel.

(Dave and Rich pulling)

For more photos of the Series 1 Sculpture, visit,

Richcraft Ironworks

Distinctive Sculptural Metalworks 

Who we are

Yes, we are 3 brothers; Peter, Richard and David Baker. We were born, raised and all still reside in Ontario, Canada. 

From left to right in the photo;

Dave is the explorer and technical whiz.

Rich is the hunter and adventurer.

Peter is the gatherer and researcher.

We Love our Land Rovers, we Live for Adventure, we are Family, and these are the ties that bind.