Tag Archives: V8 engine

Transportation

The Ultimate Apocalypse Survival Vehicle Doesn’t Exi….

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From the Driven Eclectic Collection- 1977 Land Rover 101 Forward Control “Survival Truck”

If you have ever imagined yourself (and your +1’s) safely managing a Zombie apocalypse and driving from a danger to a safe zone- this is the vehicle you want to be in.
  • Offered for sale in the Las Vegas auction via Broad Arrow Auctions from The Driven Eclectic Collection
  • An ex-U.K. Ministry of Defence (MOD) surplus truck converted into an all-terrain adventure camper
  • Exceptionally equipped with solar power, an AluCab 270-degree awning, and full living quarters with a kitchenette
  • Supplied with a Ministry of Defence Certificate of Origin and period MOD inspection reports
  • Powered by a replacement 3.5-liter Rover V8 coupled with an LT95 four-speed manual transmission complete with a dual-range transfer case and vacuum-locking center differential
  • Presented in Davos White with Bahama Gold Raptor bedliner over brown leather upholstery
  • Left-hand-drive example with prior ownership in Poland and the U.K.; imported to the U.S. in 2023

Chassis No. 96400307

The Land Rover 101 Forward Control was a rugged but lightweight forward utility vehicle in use by the British Armed Forces in the 1970s.

Although primarily created as a compact artillery gun tractor, the dynamic design of the Land Rover 101 expanded its use across a wide variety of roles such as radio command center, electronic warfare vehicle, ambulance, and even as a surface-to-air missile platform. Though retired from service by the late 1990s, the surplus stock of some 2,700 Land Rover 101s have since become a popular platform for enthusiasts to create their dream offroad vehicle.

Built in October 1976, this left-hand-drive 1977 Land Rover 101 Forward Control was originally dispatched to the Central Army Vehicle Depot in Ashchurch, England according to its British Heritage Trust Certificate. Its accompanying Certificate of Origin from the British Ministry of Defence (MOD) reveals that the truck officially entered service on 1 January 1977, and remained active until 27 November 1992 when it was purchased from MOD through the Disposal Sales Depot. First officially road registered in the U.K. in October 1997, prior research indicates that the Land Rover may have spent several years in a Polish collection before returning to the U.K. in July 2018.

The ex-military Land Rover has since been painstakingly transformed into an overland-style camper prepared for any terrain.

It is armed with an arsenal of camping gear, headlined by an Alu-Cab 270-degree awning and Pop-Top sleeping system with Sauleda acrylic canvas tent, hinged raising bed platform, and memory foam mattress. Its exhaustive list of adventuring upgrades is further underscored by LED exterior lighting, generous exterior storage, a portable shower, and a detailed auxiliary power system that includes a Cotek 3.5 kW inverter and two roof-mounted 100W solar panels with Victron Energy super cycle 125ah batteries.

The original military-issue Bronze Green paint was replaced with Davos White and Bahamas Gold Raptor bedliner. Inside, the Land Rover features detailed living quarters complete with a rear kitchenette with propane stove, sink, and SnoMaster refrigerator. The cabin floors and ample storage compartments are made from teak, while the seats are trimmed in BOXMARK XTREME water-resistant brown leather and the headliner is made from British Millerain weather-resistant canvas. The interior is also furnished with Monitor Audio Climate 50 speakers married to dual Mission Cyrus 2 amplifiers with Bluetooth capability, a television mount, and even a backup camera. All-weather essentials include a Webasto gas heater, 60-liter stainless water tanks with electric pump, and Lifeline water filtration.

The Land Rover is reportedly powered by a replacement 3.5-liter Rover V8 featuring rebuilt dual Stromberg carburetors and a host of supporting modifications including an aluminum radiator and stainless steel exhaust. This is managed by a rebuilt LT95 four-speed manual transmission with dual-range transfer case and vacuum locking center differential. Additional equipment includes adjustable air ride suspension complete with Bilstein shocks, 16-inch steel wheels shod in Michelin XZL all-terrain tires, and Able Engineering disc brakes on all four corners.

Prior research indicates that much of the camper conversion was performed by Latitude Overland in Bristol, U.K., while the Land Rover’s electrical overhaul was completed by R&L Auto Electrics in Plymouth. Acquired by the consignor in August 2022, the Land Rover was subsequently imported to the U.S. at the beginning of 2023 and shipped to Austin, Texas; entering a remarkable collection of rare automobiles.

This 1977 Land Rover 101 Forward Control is offered today with an extensive history file that includes its Certificate of Origin from the Ministry of Defence, multiple military inspection reports during its service period, and prior U.K. registration.

Outfitted with an extensive array of thoughtful upgrades inside and out, this example is equipped to venture far beyond the beaten path. Whether embarking on a challenging overlanding expedition or enjoying a memorable off-grid escape at a favorite campsite, it offers a unique but well-equipped platform for the adventures its next caretaker dreams to set out on.

For the Silo, Ramsay Potts/Broad Arrow Auctions.

Supplemental

Thirty-one 101s were converted by Land Rover with styled bodyshells for the 1995 Sylvester Stallone film Judge Dredd. Land Rover is supposedly the world’s only surviving ground vehicle manufacturer in 2139 when the film is set, and the green oval logo can be seen on the side of the vehicles, known as “City CABs” talkingpix.com

A 101 C re-styled for the movie Judge Dredd.

Vintage

We Shouldn’t Even Be Showing You This Top Secret Aston Martin But Here It Is

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This Aston Martin Virage Volante (available via our friends at ClassicDriver) is one of only 24 cars with both a works-engine upgrade from 5.3 to 6.3 liter and a wide body kit to handle the massive power increase to 465 PS. Furthermore, research suggests that it is also the only LHD-Virage 6.3 Wide Body equipped with a manual transmission.

When the Aston Martin Virage and its open-top Volante counterpart debuted at the close of the 1980s, they signaled a significant leap in performance over the outgoing V8 models. The secret ingredient was Tadek Marek’s robust 5.3-liter V8, which thanks to Callaway-designed cylinder heads and Weber-Marelli fuel injection pumped out 335 PS.

For customers who still demanded more, Aston Martin’s Works Service division offered an extraordinary factory-developed upgrade program.

On top of that was an enlarged 6.3-liter-V8, derived from the Group C racing car, that delivered 465 PS. To handle this monstrous power increase, Aston fitted the car with wider bodywork, a revised suspension, larger 18-inch wheels and ventilated AP Racing disc brakes.

Truly A One Off Car

This Virage Volante was originally built as a left-hand drive for its then German owner. It got its 6.3-liter-conversion in 1997, accompanied by the wide body installation and a re-spray in Porsche Midnight Blue. A package that elevates this only left-hand drive Virage with a manual transmission from an already exclusive Aston Martin to a truly one-off.

For the Silo, Thomas Imhof/ClassicDriver.com

Transportation

Our Horse Powered Past Drove Today’s Auto Tech

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Where did auto tech start?

A horse and buggy. Excellent horse-power huh? People got tired of the nurturing it took to take care of a work horse. People wanted more and as with anything the need for something better fuels the spark for innovation. How about something to do work, but doesn’t need rest? Doesn’t need medication? Doesn’t need someone to shovel up its crap? Take this formula and you get the steam engine, not a crazy engine, but an engine none-the-less. Suddenly the glowing aura of potential is perceivable, right on the horizon. Now we can have multiple horse-power without the care. Still needed someone to shovel though.

The Horsey Horseless. Designed to prevent horses being frightened by a car.

Enter, the mother of current automotive technology today, the oil industry.

Instead of burning coal, why not find some ways to refine oil to be used as fuel sources to run things on? Who knows, we could have been running advanced versions of steam engines today? They actually can be made to be fairly efficient and clean using current technology and were quite practical cars back in 1918.

Then the internal combustion engine enters the scene the oil companies love this, and a mass marketed engine that is completely dependent on oil is born. Just think, this is awesome for business, these engines need oil for fuel and lubrication. Then all the different designs start flowing. (Off the top of my head and in no chronological order) The single cylinder, then 2, then 4, then 6, then the flathead V8. Now this is where we start to see major horse-power and design improvements. The trusty ole’ inline 6’s, the small block eating slant 6’s,The overhead valve V engine, big blocks, small blocks, Hemi’s. There are pancake engines, W engines, rotary engines, v-tecs, boxster engines and many, many more. (Not to mention all of the different fuel delivery systems!)

The cylinder and valves and crankshaft of the Internal Combustion Engine

The one thing that really makes me scratch my head is the fact that it took so long getting hybrids, smart-cars, electric cars, and hydrogen cars that are actually worth looking at and driving. I mean, why is it that I can take a full size 2008 Chevrolet Silverado with a 5.3 L vortec engine, put: a cold air intake, a magnaflow exhaust system, and a good edge products programmer, and I can get an average of over 36miles per gallon, with the same horse-power? Why is it that I (not being an automotive engineer) can do this, but you can’t just buy one with those numbers from the manufacturer?


Not to mention brown-gas converters that have been tested on most common engine types that can take, mineral water, and a reaction from current between two electrified plates (similar to a car battery) and create a safe amount of hydrogen gas as a by-product which can make your car run the same on half the amount of fuel. The thing that boggles me is that most people have never even heard of these. You can buy the plans off the internet (not as complicated as it sounds) or I can even get ready to install ones from my performance part supplier. I just find it strange that automotive technology and fuel sources have taken this long to start to veer just slightly away from oil (or as ‘ol Jed calls it “Texas tea”).

At one point we bridged the gap from a horse and buggy to a steam engine, and then to internal combustion. With the technology we have now, we should have much higher mpg’s and horse-power or an extremely viable alternative. It really makes me wonder where we might be now if this technology was steered in a different direction from the start. It’s been over 100 years now of improving the same technology using more or less the same fuel source. There are guys in the States who run their own garage refined deep fryer grease to power their small pickups and VW buses. There are guys who run pickups off wood-fire smoke. Just something to think about. 

For the Silo, Robb Price.