This Land Rover Series 1 has an amazing and tragic story in its history, and is now for sale in pieces on eBay in the UK. The Rover was actually used in competition, and is claimed to be the only one to ever win a circuit race. Unfortunately, the talented driver who hustled it around road courses flipped the truck during an event and was killed in the incident. It may present a moral conundrum for some, but it should be preserved in some fashion either way. Bidding ends tonight, so be sure to check it out here on eBay UK.
The Rover has been laid up on a farmer’s property for years, unaware of the history. Notes the linked website in the eBay ad, from www.lrsoc.com: “Consistent and steady driver, well known at the time in UK after his win in the wet 1953 Relay Race at the wheel of the same Land Rover of his fatal accident, Arthur Baker drove regularly also in rallies, sprints and autocross. He overturned his car at Copse corner, Silverstone, during practice for the 750 Motor Club’s Six-Hour Relay Race, and sustained fatal injuries.” If you’ve ever been to an autocross or other event where a driver campaigned the unorthodox to some success, you know they are considered heroic to many.
The farmer stripped the Rover down for restoration, but as it often happens, the project stalled and was forgotten. The seller notes: “We have the remains of the chassis but its too far gone to repair, the engine is missing but we have the cylinder head, axles, wheels and the original ring pull gearbox.” As a bonus, the seller is including a damaged 80 Series 1 Minerva for the purpose of re-using the chassis and other components in the restoration of this significant Rover. The thought of hustling a vehicle like this around a road course gives me a chuckle, and despite the sad outcome, I’m sure Mr. Baker had a darn good time besting his fellow drivers in Austin Healeys and MGBs with what amounted to a farm apparatus.
From a forum post listed on the aforementioned Rover website, one commenter dug up a mention from Autosport magazine that cited accounts of the Rover averaging 52 m.p.h., and “…cornered as if on rails, its driver sitting high up, like the Captain on the bridge of a ship, before a dashboard equipped for rally-driving, his person held steady by straps each side of his seat.” How wild. The story is sad for sure, considering Baker left behind a young family, but his legendary status is cemented in British motorsports history. Hopefully, his legacy will be preserved once this Rover is restored – provided the provenance can be proven beyond a doubt.
And it was also raced by Richard Petty too !
I knew about this but had no idea the Landy was still around. Hope someone rescues it.
Proves my old saying “the British will race bath tubs”
“averaging 52 mph”? Does not sound very exciting to watch.
Cool vehicle…unfortunate accident. Equivalent of older farm tractor accidents…who needs a roll cage or roll bar.
I’m with Dirk – restore this back to look like it did when it was raced. It’s a vehicle with an interesting history.
I wonder if the race was the Pomeroy Trophy? It’s a handicap event, so you don’t have to be the fastest vehicle to win it.
Junk. nothing to see here.
With all due respect, do you even like cars?
If one refuses to appreciate the unique and eccentric facets of the automotive world, and the stories behind them, this person cannot be considered a true enthusiast.
It is perfectly acceptable if the above topic is not “your thing”, but it is rather arrogant to claim that the vehicle in question and the tale that it tells has no value to anyone whatsoever.
When I saw “amazing and tragic story” with that photo, I pretty much guessed how it all had turned out back in the day. Hope this one gets restored, it is a unique bit of history.
The donor car looks like it was rolled and the “race car” doesn’t.
Something doesn’t seem right here.
The 6 hour relay race is still run every year by the 750 Motor Club. More info here http://www.750mc.co.uk/formulae/birkett.htm
I see you got the autocross quote from the advert, but just to clarify: autocross in UK is offroad (rallycross developed from it), rather than the round cones in a car park thing I´ve seen in the US. However, it only really started in mid 60s, whereas the fatal accident occured in 1954, well before autocross was started. Grasstrack racing, possibly, where a Land Rover would at least be in its environment.
But racing a Land Rover and this story is new to me!