Jeffrey AronsonDear Rovers North,
Thank you for publishing the finest Land Rover publication available! I thoroughly enjoy receiving and reading every issue of Rovers Magazine from cover to cover.
My parents introduced me to Land Rover at an early age by purchasing countless Corgi and Dinky models as gifts. My mother, who passed away in December at age 96, drove her low-mileage Discovery II SE until she was in her 80s. (That Discovery still has 10,000 miles on the odometer and remains in mint condition.) It’s joined in our family by a 2012 LR2, also mint.
Happy New Year and continued best wishes to you and the
Rovers North family.
Sean Donahue
Lake George, NY
[How fortunate for you to have such an early introduction to the Land Rover marque! The monthly Ottawa Valley News often features articles on Land Rover models. Here are a couple of my Dinky Toy models -ed.]
Dear Rovers North,
While you and my New England friends shovel snow, I’m enjoying Land Rover spotting in New Zealand. The t-shirt demonstrates that old Land Rovers make the same impressions on enthusiasts everywhere.
Barry Enis
Kent, CT
[Taking a break from shoveling snow to let envy take over – ed.]
Dear Rovers North,
The first photo is a fall scene the kids wanted to create around Halloween. They just finished carving their pumpkins and wanted to show them off. My youngest, who thinks the Land Rover is his, insisted we create a fall display at the end of our driveway. We parked our Land Rover, named “Freddie,” at the end of the drive to display with the kids’ Jack-O-Lanterns and the colorful foliage. The setting sun made for a festive scene for all drivers passing by and we received several nods of appreciation.
The second photo was my attempt to learn some off-road driving skills. My lovely wife booked “Freddie” and me in for a half day private instruction course at an old quarry. Amongst the muddy hill climbs, large ruts, and steep banks, there was this fun water crossing. The instructor would not tell me how deep the water was or what the bottom was made from so I had to ease in a few feet, back out, and then ease in a bit more until I reached the full depth of the obstacle. It was the most fun I’ve ever had in a vehicle despite a harsh scolding I received from a Land Rover enthusiast friend who told me I’d ruin Freddie by doing things like that!
James Fitzroy
Finksburg, MD
[Freddie looks terrific, whether as a Halloween ornament or undertaking a water crossing. Just wash off any mud and grit underneath him and check the swivel balls, axle casings, transfer case and transmission for water intrusion, and you should be fine -ed.]
Dear Rovers North,
Why did early Series Land Rovers have “banjo” steering wheels, with three groups of thin spokes connecting the hub to the rim? I understand this might be an early safety device, made to collapse in the event of some kind of collision. Wheels like this were required on racing cars at Brooklands. I know this from MG books, many of which cover some of the racing cars MG ran at Brooklands in the later ‘20s and ‘30s. Thank you!!
Marty Ray
Santa Cruz, CA
[Automotive engineers believed that the wire-spoked steering wheel provided shock absorption from less-forgiving front suspensions; their thinner rims helped provide additional control. Remember, too, that The Rover Car Company shared components from its cars in the Series Land Rovers. The change to Bakelite steering wheels in the Series IIA would have been considered more “contemporary,” simliar to the changes in Rover sedans -ed.]
Dear Rovers North,
I thought you might like these “Naughty or Nice” Christmas photos of my ‘99 TD5 Defender 110. I also attached a photo of she and her sister ‘78 Series III. I hope you like them and Happy Holidays to everyone.
Pete Simms
Deep River, CT
[We love the photos, Pete, and hope that your Land Rovers received gifts from Santa Claus -ed.]
Dear Rovers North,
I always enjoy your magazine and enjoy contributing my Land Rover stories. In mid-January, my ’67 Series IIA 109” NADA was put into service for a photo shoot of a clothing line (Bare Bottom Clothing). It was only 30 degrees F and so by far was the coldest day of the year here!
David Carmichael
Plant City, FL
[We’ve always enjoyed the articles on the history of your Land Rovers. Let us know when the photo shoot appears online or in print ads -ed.]
Dear Rovers North,
These photos capture a special moment for us. On one side, a 1975 Land Rover Series III. On the other, a 2025 Defender 90.
We found the green Series III in Totonicapán, Guatemala back in 2021. It had clearly lived a long, hardworking life. Since then, we’ve been slowly bringing it back, restoring it piece by piece, learning its story along the way. This year, we finally got it road-ready and drove it to the Land Rover gathering in Antigua, Guatemala, a moment that made every hour of work worth it.
Seeing the 1975 Series III next to the 2025 Defender really shows how much has changed, and how much hasn’t. One is simple, mechanical, and raw. The other is modern, comfortable, and refined. But both are built for the same reason: to go anywhere and create memories doing it.
For us, this isn’t just about the car, it’s about connection and passion for a brand.
Paulo Gramajo and Monserrat Gomez Hirst
Quetzaltenango, Guatemala
[Congratulations on the stunning results of your hard work, and congratulations to all the Land Rover enthusiasts who joined you in Antigua -ed.]
Dear Rovers North,
That had to be an exciting nine days and counting with today being day ten in the Defender OCTA. Did you spend any nights inside?
I’ll be waiting with bated breath for the Spring issue with OCTA’s debut in Rovers Magazine.
PS. With today being your last day with the ‘loaner’ I’ll quote the title of a song by Supertramp… “Take the Long Way Home.”
Leighton Dowdle
Marion, NC
[I chose to sleep in beds instead of nights in the OCTA. I can hear Roger Hodgson’s voice now; see the article on p. 14 of this issue -ed.]