Jeffrey AronsonMuch of the East Coast, from the South through New England, has finally dug out of a massive “snow bombogenesis” – just in time for the next one. As we write this, another storm will extend from New Mexico through Maine, dumping more ice and snow – perfect weather for my Land Rovers! To pass the time, Sighters from around the continent have kept themselves warm watching movies and videos, trolling social media, and reading magazines and catalogs. We thank everyone for their diligence in sharing their findings with us!
Rule #1 — All Sightings receive recognition and our appreciation, but not necessarily a mug.
We reward only those Sightings that capture the unique qualities of Land Rovers as well as their owners and display them in a distinctive way.
Rule #2 — If your Sighting doesn’t really surprise you, it won’t surprise us, either — thus, we can’t award you a mug. We’re delighted, but not surprised, that Land Rovers appear in British television programs, British publications, films with British themes, and shows about African safaris. These Sightings are appreciated, but not mug-worthy.
Rule #3 — At an ever-changing date before publication, we close off the Sightings; for this issue, it was December 15, 2021. If we’ve mentioned the Sighting in an earlier issue, we might not mention it again. If you’re new to the family of Land Rover enthusiasts, you may not have seen your Sighting in an earlier issue.
Rule #4 — If you qualify, one mug per Sighting per issue. No more than two Coveted Mugs will be awarded to the same person per year.
Rule #5 — Sightings that are Land Rover references in books go to our Literary Land Rover Editor for the mention, but only when space permits.
Rule #6 — Psst… email submissions — remember we can’t send a mug by email. To be considered for a Coveted Mug, send us your real name and shipping address too.
Rule #7 — Snail mail sightings must be sent to Editor, Rovers Magazine, P.O. Box 90, Vinalhaven, ME 04863
Rule #8 — Grudgingly, very grudgingly, the Editor admits he might have made an error. Let us know if you think you’ve been jobbed.
Catalog art directors know that the presence of Land Rovers pulls in eyeballs. John Wilkerson, Frisco, CO, Ryan Easterling, Fairhope, AL, and Curt Kolcun, [“no mug, please”] spotted an orange Series IIA 109” on the cover of the Martin Dingman catalog [“Proof that good things really do last”]. Mike McNulty, Arcadia, FL, sent in a Westport Big and Tall catalog with a Land Rover on the cover, and a tiny photo of a patina Series Rover on the cover of the Oobe Brand clothing catalog. Eric de Rochambeau, N. Kingston, RI, found Land Rovers throughout the Overland clothing catalog. Doug Crowther, Concord, VA, Ray Romano, San Antonio, TX, KC Jones, Santa Ana, CA, and Anthony de la Fuente, Encinitas, CA, noted a Birdwell Beach Britches ad featuring a Defender. Mike Olinger, Lockbourne, OH, spotted the Defender on the GenTeal catalog and website. Hans Van Lancker, Milton, MA, caught the subliminal message connecting a Range Rover Classic to the tag line, “A Bomber [jacket] for Grown-Ups” in the Todd Snyder catalog. Scott Tognocchi, Owings Mills, MD, credits his wife, Nadia, with spotting the Defender in the La Scala USA clothing catalog. Bill Johnson, Macomb, IL, enjoyed seeing the Series II in the Yorkshire Dales catalog. Carl Hedreen, East Davenport, WA, had the pleasure of having his Defender 130 double cab used on the cover of Flora and Henri, his “little sister’s” clothing store in Seattle, WA.
Online, Quaker Marine Supply promoted its Gamekeeper Jacket with a handsome Defender 110 in the background, noted Jim Hutchison, Cambridge, MA [see Rule #6]. He liked seeing the model Land Rovers in the Liliput catalog, too. Eric de Rochambeau, N. Kingston, RI, sent in a collage of Sightings from Stauer, Aether, and an American Rifleman African-based article. David Russ, Lyme, NH, enjoyed seeing the Defender in the snow in the British-based Fat Face catalog. Eric Brumwell, Bainbridge Island, WA, noted the German Land Rover 110 in the Dryrobe catalog.
Robert Alley, Marietta, GA, watched an episode about the Yaupson Wellness Company on PBS’s StartUp and was delighted to see both a Defender and a Range Rover Classic – on PBS! Eric Brumwell, Bainbridge Island, WA, spotted the soft top Defender in the movie trailer for The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. PT Schram, Churubusco, IN, noted that Hagerty predicted Defenders would be one of 20 classic cars to increase in value.
James Hutchison, Cambridge, MA, enjoyed seeing so many photos of Land Rovers in the Wildlife Foundation’s publication. Jeremy Vimislik, Seattle, WA, does not want a mug for his Sighting but noted the Defender 110 on the screenshot of a phone cover ad on an Amazon web page. Robert and Jessica Jackson, Lewiston, MT, was pleased with the 80s Land Rover 110 with “Go Faster” striping on an Instagram post for Coleman camping gear. Bruce Cook, Edisto Island, SC, loved the sight of a topless Series III in the Marchbrae store in Edinburgh, Scotland. Morgan Aldrich, Winooski, VT, noted that Dometic promoted a fridge online using a European new Defender 110.
Among the more unusual Sightings, Nathaniel Pate, Amelia Court House, VA, noted his mortgage statement included a Rocket Auto insert with a Range Rover Sport prominently displayed. Lisa Ormiston, Victoria, BC, enjoyed seeing Land Rovers in articles in the lifestyle-oriented YAM Magazine. George Babits, Salmon, ID, watched an animated video from Gateway Mortgage featuring a LWB Land Rover. Shaun O’Neil, Seattle, WA, spotted a topless Land Rover 110 at a gas pump in a Bureau of Labor Statistics publication on the consumer price index. Kraig Mackett, Perrysburg, OH, noted that Four Wheeler’s “Best 4×4 Classic at SEMA” was Royal Overland’s customized Defender. Kraig Mackett, Perrysburg, OH, was happy to see that there’s an offshore drilling area in the North Sea with a rig named Rovers North! Brandon Montgomery, Summerville, GA, enjoyed seeing that Jeremy Clarkson’s model car collection includes Land Rover Series pickups. Steve Lister, Utica, OH, sent in Sightings of a NAPA online ad for a Defender RC toy car, and a Mercari model ad with a Defender pickup. Oliver Schmittenberg, Perrysburg, OH, enjoyed a visit to the Peterson Museum, which featured a Dormobile [featured in a previous issue of Rovers Magazine -ed] and a new Defender. Andrew Thompson, Stevens, PA, was searching online for a hotel in the Carolinas and enjoyed seeing a Defender 110 posed in front of the Greyfield Inn. Paul Kensington, La Grande, OR, noted that “All Men” packages nail clippers in a container resembling a Tangiers Orange Defender 110.
We’ve mentioned these Sightings in previous issues, but we do want to thank Sighters for sharing them again with us. Patrick Holder, Atlanta, GA, spotted the Defenders in the Vineyard Vines and Peter Millar catalogs, as did Brad Bokkean, Banner Elk, NC, Karen Sindar, Santa Rosa, CA, Frank Adcock, Memphis, TN, Jason Delgado, Westport, MA, Rick Sunderland, Golden, CO and Pat Harris, Vero Beach, FL. Will Wilson [see Rule #6] enjoyed seeing the Series Land Rover in the online ad for Dues ex Machina. Andrew Thompson, Stevens, PA, spotted the Land Rovers in the Boden catalog. Jonathan Greene, Pikeville, NC, and Adam Setliff, Flower Mound, TX, got a kick out of the rear of a Defender on the 511 Tactical website ad, touting its ability to help you “Survive a Visit to Your In-Laws.” Hannah Kerr, Moorland Hills, OH, enjoyed the Defender on the cover of the Vuori catalog. Tony Brooks, Leesburg, VA, and Andrew Thompson, Stevens, PA, we’re pleased to see the Series Rover in a desert scene on a Marriott hotel website. Louis Arredondo, Rocklin, CA, enjoyed the write-up on Lanny Clark’s superb restorations in the Orvis catalog. David Ducat [see Rule #6] pieced together a Sighting from the B pillar and window of a Defender in an older Lands End catalog. Ken Gummerson, Baltimore, MD, spotted the Defender in the Principal Insurance television commercial and the Series IIA in the Orvis promotion. Tyler Lucks, New Albany, OH, enjoyed seeing the Series IIA pickup [with Maine plates! -ed] in the Serena and Lily catalog. Bob Banghart, Douglas, AK, saw a Series II in the Sundance Almanac catalogue.