From Chartwell England to Safenwil Switzerland.
Emil Frey has been importing motorcycles from Britain since before the Second World War and cars since 1945. They are Switzerland’s largest importer of cars and creator of the Classic Car Center at Safenwil (Canton of Argovie).
Sir Winston Churchill was presented with a series 1 Land Rover for his 80th birthday in 1954. The vehicle was auctioned off along with many other items in 1973. It sold for £160, to Norman Mills who then sold to a neighbour Frank Quay for £320 soon afterwards. The Rover was put to work then stored in a shed from 1977 until a failed sale attempt in 1999, then back in the shed until 2012 and the now famous auction which pulled £129,000 (!) At the time, the winning bidder remained anonymous, but the Land Rover is now fully refurbished and road-worthy and on display in the Emil Frey Classic Cars Center. A video (commentary in German but all aspects of the restoration are visually clear) is well-worth a watch.
Naturally we took photos and acquired a 1:43 scale model from the museum’s curator. The year of construction means that the Range Rover fits our 1960’s “Cadet Force” series of videos, and could well lead to another episode !
Wide passenger seat for the owner’s comfort. Central arm rest replaces usual extra narrow middle seat. Cab heating as an extra.
A young cadet could be the proud driver for a great man across his 300 acre estate.
View from up here is better for reviewing troops and work progress at Chartwell.
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