1955 Series 1 Land Rover

Land Rover Monthly readers will recognise Jude from the magazine a few years ago. We exported her to California in 2010 (legally with all the proper paperwork) but now her owner. former LRM publisher Cathie Howell-Thomas. feels it's time to say goodbye. Obviously. this is a very rare opportunity to acquire what is possibly the finest Land Rover Series 1 in North America. The vehicle. universally known as 'Jude'. was the subject of a total rebuild for a magazine feature in the UK in 2007. This vehicle would easily fetch 30. 00 GBP in the UK. Add importation costs of 5. 00 GBP and you have a 35. 00 GBP value which translates to US$52. 00 at current exchange rates. We are asking just $40. 00 which is a real bargain with room for real profit when her new owner sells her on. Builder and magazine writer Jerry Thurston's aim. to make the project unique. was to upscale the Land Rover's power and performance capability using parts and techniques that would have been available to an owner in the mid and late 1950s. All work was carried out in the UK by top Land Rover specialists. Wherever possible. brand new 'old stock' parts were used rather than replica bits. New heavy duty galvanized chassis frame by Richards Chassis. New galvanized bulkhead. Engine totally rebuilt by Cox and Turner incorporating a compression ratio increase (+1 atmosphere) using stronger connecting rods and Rover 3-liter pistons and balanced to full race standards. Cylinder head and block were 'ported' and a special one-off billet steel camshaft was designed by Piper for a power increase. A pair of brand new 1. 5 inch SU H4 carbs on alloy inlet manifolds was installed along with K&N free flow filters. Fuel is delivered through a new SU fuel pump. Rebuilt and uprated radiator from Leicester Radiators. Wiring is all-new along with new voltage regulator and new instruments. Gearboxes were totally rebuilt by Dunsfold Land Rover and a Fairey Overdrive is fitted along with free-wheeling front hubs. The new clutch and prop shafts are Bearmach units. (A second. spare Fairey overdrive comes with the vehicle). The new braking system features Automech copper hard lines and Goodrich braided flexible lines. New drums. wheel cylinders and shoes were also fitted. New front axle swivels and all bearings with Railko conversion by Dunsfold Land Rover. Rebuilt steering box and totally overhauled steering system with all new ball joints (Dunsfold Land Rover). New parabolic springs with new shock absorbers. pins and shackles. New front wings. inners from Dunsfold Land Rover. outers from Wadsworth Panels. New tailgate (Wadsworth) new canvas tilt (Exmoor Trim). New fuel tank. Most. if not all. nuts and bolts were replaced with new and all are finished in correct grey finish. from LR Fasteners. All are believed to be correct threads and sizes. Total respray in period-correct blue. Wheels shot blasted. powder coated then sprayed blue. New period-correct tyres. Jude was purchased in the UK by Land Rover Monthly magazine publish Cat Howell-Thomas and featured in the magazine on numerous occasions and at many Land Rover shows in Britain. The vehicle was legally imported into the United States in 2010 by Cat and the vehicle has a State of California Certificate of Title. Jude has covered very few miles since arriving on a roll-on/roll-off ferry at Longbeach in 2010 and. sadly. we now feel it's time to say goodbye and for Jude to find a new home with another true Land Rover enthusiast.