Owners Workshop Manual / HAYNES
This the bible of any Land Rover newcomer. The first book we purchased back in 1996 when we purchased Victoria. It is good enough for the basic service and maintenance, but too approximative, or sometimes misleading, to do serious job. Better download for free from the web the official Workshop Manual...
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Restoration Manual / HAYNES
Nice to have... But many parts actually are covered in the maintenance book so... Better download for free from the web the official Workshop Manual...
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Earth, My Friend / P. Townsend
Published by Hodder and Stoughton, London, 1959. A real story of a man’s solo journey around the world in a Series I Land Rover. The vehicle is portrayed as a loyal companion through the adventure, enduring harsh conditions like desert crossings at night and drawing curious reactions. The Land Rover is central to the narrative, serving not just as transportation but as a symbol of resilience and exploration.
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Across the top and other places / M. Douglas & D. Oldmeadow
Published by Rigby, 1972. The book is a recollection of the authors’ four-year journey across the northern regions of Australia, referred to as the “Top End.” It captures the rugged beauty, isolation and adventure of traversing remote landscapes and surviving in the wild. The narrative blends "travelogue" with personal anecdotes, offering insights into the challenges of life on the road. While specific details about the Land Rover aren’t the main subject, it is obvious that the car played a key role in traveling through the Australian outback.
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Transafrica Land Rover / P. Kohler & Martin Port
Published by porterpress, 2022. Trans-Africa Land Rover" primarily refers to the 1959 Series II Land Rover and the 1955-1962 solo overland journey of Philip Kohler across Africa. Written by Martin Port, the book details Kohler's solo adventure, which was undertaken without sponsorship. It includes over 300 color photographs. The Land Rover itself became a famous part of the story. It was recently restored and made an emotional return to the road after being inactive for 20 years.
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Defender "Gold Portfolio"
Brooklands Books Ltd, 1994. Very interesting compilation of many press articles covering some decades of Land Rover Defender production. It is like taking from UK generalist car magazines all articles or roda tests that were related to the Defender.
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Conversions & Applications
Motor Racing Publications Ltd., 1995. A comprehensive selection of conversions and tailor-made Land Rovers. 128 pages of black and white pictures that demonstrate how versatile the Land Rover chassis could be...
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Land Rover by Chris Bennett
Motorbooks, 1992. You have to imagine a teenager in the 90s desperate to get any piece of information about Land Rovers, long before the internet existed... This book covers all aspects of the Land Rover universe, full of pictures. One of my favourite ever... How many thousands of hours spent turning these pages ?
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JUE 477
Porter Press, 2020. This beautifully illustrated book tells the story of JUE 477, the first production Land Rover, originally built in 1948. Initially intended for King George VI, the vehicle was instead retained by the Rover Company before being sold and eventually forgotten, left in a field for decades. The book documents the full restoration, from its rediscovery in a sad state to its revival by a dedicated team, under the ownership of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, CEO of INEOS. Rather than opting for a shiny rebuild, the team chose to preserve as much of the original vehicle as possible, maintaining its aged character while making it mechanically sound.
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The Land Rover Experience
Published by Land Rover Ltd itself in 1994, from legendary LR specialist Tom Sheppard, this is one of my favourite book. It is the official 4x4 driving guide, from the brand, explaining not only how to drive off-road, but how to do that using your Land Rover. Grab a copy before it is gone forever !
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Vehicle Dependent Expedition Guide
Tom Sheppard's Vehicle-Dependent Expedition Guide is widely regarded as one of the most authoritative books ever written on overland travel. First published in 1998 in association with Land Rover, its 544 pages (!!!) go far beyond vehicle preparation, covering expedition planning, navigation, communications, recovery techniques, logistics, border crossings, camp organisation, health, safety and team management.
It remains one of the benchmark references for anyone wishing to explore remote places by four-wheel drive. It deserves a place on the bookshelf of every classic Land Rover enthusiast. Watch out: copies can be found on the internet at less than 40€, so be careful of sellers asking for +100€. Search...
SII specification Guide
Published by The Crowood Press in 2010, from legendary LR specialist James Taylor, this is a "must-have" as it covers each detail of the SII factory specifications, and helps you to find out the exact part, or the proper way, things were assembled in the 60s. This is somehow the SII's bible that any serious classic owner must have at home.
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La Brousse sous mes ailes
Le Livre Contemporain, 1960. This book recounts the scientific expedition of German veterinarian Bernhard Grzimek and his son Michael in Tanzania during 1957–1958. The duo undertook an ambitious mission to study the wildlife migrations in the Serengeti. Tragically, the story ends on a somber note with the death of Michael Grzimek in a plane crash during the mission. The book played a significant role in raising awareness about the importance of preserving the Serengeti ecosystem.
This book was originally written in German, but here is its french translation as purchased when I was a teenager. Search...