The Rover-Landers of BC

The Canadian Institute of Forestry will be presenting a Robert Bateman lecture on 2 November 2008 at the Canfor Theatre , UNBC here in Prince George . There is a brief writeup [ 4 sentences ] on his background in the local paper , of which 1 of the 4 sentences states ' He travelled around the world in a Land Rover in 1957 , 1958 , increasing his appreciation of cultural and natural heritage ' .

I found it interesting that they specifically mentioned ' Land Rover ' ; they could have easily left it out .

Apparently he painted the landrover with artwork as they went representing the countries they visited. It would be worth a small fortune if found intact and unpainted.

http://inroads-rru.blogspot.com/2007/05 ... teman.html

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/ ... RTM0012349

Since I was 12 years old, my only goal was to have adventures in nature and put them down in paint. When I was taking geography at U of T, I had no idea that the world would become my oyster as it has. I went around it in a Landrover with Bristol Foster (5T5 Biology) in 1957-58. We traveled across Tropical Africa, Northern India, Burma, Thailand, Malaya and Australia, sleeping in the Landrover and cooking our own food¼ 14 months for $2,000 each. The world was safe in those days. It was when the going was good. In the last two decades I keep getting invited as a resource person on adventure tours to such places as Antarctica, Africa, the Amazon and Asia—Birgit always goes with me. It is like a magic carpet for us.

http://www.aag.org/Careers/Geogwork/Bateman.html

Just reviving an old thread.

I have researched the Bateman/Foster expedition.
They did start with a clean "canvas", and as they
went from country to country Bateman recorded
paintings of their travels around the belt of the
vehicle.

If anyone's interested, I have written an article,
and have quite a few photos. And if anyone's
down here in Ontario, stop in, I have a video
of their trip.

That's pretty amazing.

I can't tell from the image, do you know what the plate is on that Rover in the photo? Is it a canadian truck?

It's a british plate: WAC 337.
Bristol and Robert picked it up at the factory
(Johnny Cash says it's cheaper that way.)
It's a 1957 Pilcher ambulance bodied Series One,
modified for their expedition.
They went through Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia;
and a year and a half later brought it to Canada.
Here Bristol painted over the graphics, and eventually
sold it.

Here's a pic of it when they took delivery of it.
I can add more pics, if there's any interest.

Yes please, love to see more.

They named it "The Grizzly Torque",
and the spare petrol cans on the
front were called "Gin and" "Tonic"

In India they swerved to (try to) avoid hitting
a cyclist. The vehicle ended up on it's side. A
bus stopped, and the passengers disembarked
and helped put it back on it's wheels. The cyclist
hitched a ride in the Landy to a local hospital:
nothing broken; he was ok.

The vehicle seemed to draw some interested observers.

It drew observers on board ship as well.

How likely is it that their are two such vehicles in BC? It still has the bunks in the back and the "observation hatch" above the passenger.

Anybody know the VIN of WAC 337?

http://roverlanders.bc.ca/gallery-photo ... C08879.jpg

OK, I think it's VERY tempting to go and rub a little bit of paint off that blue truck...

Where does that one live? Is it with a club member?

Yes Ray, it is safe and secure in BC awaiting restoration :) It has some very interesting features such as crank-up windows which didn't appear again until the late 80's.

I will let you know what under the baby blue.....

That's cool. Robert is still an active member of The Explorers Club. I'm sure he would be really excited to hear if that truck turned up.

Wouldn't that be wonderful if it turns out to be the Grizzly Torque.
When Bristol sold it it went to the southern US; Texas I think.
I'll contact Bristol Foster; he's on Salt Spring.
I can send my story; I don't know how to post it.
Ray, do you want me to send it to your email.
And I do have a video of their adventure, lots
of clips of the vehicle in action; even shots at
the factory test track. I can try to figure out
how to capture some stills, if anyone's interested.

Here's a picture of the rear section.

I have contacted Bristol Foster,
and sent him the photo of the blue one.

Here's some more pictures.

They even took it to the Snowy Mountains,
where we know other Series Ones worked on the project.

A couple more pics.

Great pictures! Thanks for sharing.

So cool! If that's the original truck it has to be restore to its former glory! Would love to see the truck in person.

Matt

Ditto. That's a great story and great pics.
Our illustrious Newsletter Editor, Pamela, is always on the look out for interesting new stories to bring to member, many of whom are not on the forum.
Please drop her a line and I'm sure she'd love to hear from you. (Or you can PM me here with your contact details and I'll be happy to pass them on.)

serie-ous wrote:Wouldn't that be wonderful if it turns out to be the Grizzly Torque.
When Bristol sold it it went to the southern US; Texas I think.
I'll contact Bristol Foster; he's on Salt Spring.
I can send my story; I don't know how to post it.
Ray, do you want me to send it to your email.
And I do have a video of their adventure, lots
of clips of the vehicle in action; even shots at
the factory test track. I can try to figure out
how to capture some stills, if anyone's interested.

Here's a picture of the rear section.

I am going to put this story in this month's Explorer's Club newsletter. When you speak to Bristol, tell him Maeva is going to contact Robert as well.

It would be cool if we could get Bristol and Robert to do a little "Expedition" with the Roverlanders to go and see what's under the paint.

What do you think Stuart, would that be OK?

This is all very exciting, I have talked to Bristol Foster and we are very optimistic that is it the vehicle. When he sold it it was to a UBC student doing some research in Texas so it is quite possible he brought it back. Also when I bought it I was told it was specially built for some "bird watchers" in BC.

The interest has been surprising from around the world.

Here is a thread from the Series One Club:

http://www.lrsoc.com/forum/index.php?topic=22033.0

The Bateman Foundation has been working on a project to reinact some of Bristols and "Bob's" trip and have been contacted about the find.

Fingers still crossed.....

To all that have been following this thread, the blue Series 1 has been confirmed as "The Grizzly Torque" the very same Rover Robert Bateman and Bristol Foster used on their 1957/58 World Tour.

All very exciting and now the work begins!!!

Thanks to all that kept their fingers crossed.

Congratulations.
How exciting.