Some readers may not like what Tony Burke has done to this British Army vehicle, where others will say ‘well done, great job’. This 1990s multi-purpose 4x4 hasn’t just been restored; it has undergone a very thorough makeover, complete with facelift. It is true to say though, that this campervan rebuild follows a well-established tradition in the military vehicle world. Over the years many ex-service vehicles, including World War Two lorries and more modern 101 Land Rovers for example, have met the same fate of being repurposed as overland or leisure vehicles and campers.
They may no longer look like the vehicle they once were, grating on the sense of ‘correctness’ of the serious collector or purist, but the fact that they have a use in the modern world has ensured their survival and preservation, and who can argue with that? We have also noted in pages past of this magazine that spiralling costs of the older vehicles has priced younger enthusiasts out of the market but with half decent RB44 for sale today at around the £7k mark, this is perhaps an affordable entry-level buy for someone with an interest in military vehicles, who wants to enter the hobby and attend shows. The final look of the restora…
