I've had these photos for ages; they were sent to me by Ken Sibly, the well-known writer on 4WD matters, including the South Island off-road guides. Click on any of the pictures to enlarge.
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| Thirteen new Land Rovers outside the Christchurch Car Exchange in St Asaph Street near the corner of Colombo Street in 1950. Wonder where they all went? Standing at left is Laurie Smith and on the right, Jack Carthy. The Christchurch Car Exchange was the agent for Rover cars after the Second World War so naturally became agent for the Land Rover. The company name later changed to Carthy Motors. |
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| New Land Rover, somewhere in Christchurch. |
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| Bruce Kahn (left) and Max Carthy (right) with a new Land Rover outside the Christchurch Car Exchange. |
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| Land Rover negotiates the Avon River just downstream from the Armagh Street Bridge in the centre of Christchurch. |
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The Land Rover comes up the stone ramp by the Armagh Street Bridge.
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| A new Land Rover and a new 1949 Rover 75 outside the Sydenham Fish Supply in Colombo Street (1950) |
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| A Land Rover equipped to load Tiger Moths in the early days of aerial topdressing. |
New Land Rover with an unknown driver somewhere in Christchurch.
What interesting old photos. Would be good to see other old photos from NZ 4wd-ing in the 50s 60s and 70s.
ReplyDeletex 2, John. Doesn't that Series I in the second photo look really cool?
ReplyDeleteI'd love to fine one of them stored in someone's shed for the last 40 years!
ReplyDeleteQuite a few LRs were used to load top dressers in the early days. My uncle drove one for some outfit working in the King Country. I still have some photos.
ReplyDeleteIm still driving the one with the silver chassie in these photos. Purchased by my grandfather from Max as an ex-demonstrator in 1949. It is a 1948 model, one of the first 1500 LRs built. Still runs today on the orginal 48 1.6L engine. Just working on a new WOF. Now on its third generation of owner in the same family. Thanks for the photos really great, Dad appreciated it alot. PS not for sale.
ReplyDeleteThat's great to hear, Anonymous; thanks for sharing. Anyone else have anything on what became of some of the others?
DeleteGreat to see these photos all published. The LR Register 1948 to 1953 recently published in the April 2012 'Full Grille' the line up of 13 new vehicles outside Christchurch Car Exchange. Research has shown that the only batch of 1949 vehicles to Christchurch Car Exchange were chassis numbers R8665279, R8665484 to R8665486 and R8665488 to R8665496. 13 in total.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the information. This item is one of the most-visited on the website so there's clearly a lot of interest in old Land Rovers in NZ. Other photos are always welcome, as are early Toyotas, Jeeps, etc.
DeleteHi there. I stumbled across this page while searching for early land rover in NZ during the 50's. I am the current owner since 1993 of R8665491, one from that batch of 13 to Christchurch car Exchange. Currently a member of LRSOC with 5 other Series One's
ReplyDeleteThank you for getting in touch; it's always good to hear what became of these gems.
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