22 January 2022
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1969 Land Rover Forward Control IIB fire engine takes top honours at Lakeland Motor Museum’s Classic Drive and Ride In Day.
A classic Land Rover converted into a fire engine came out on top to win the coveted Best of Boxing Day trophy at the Lakeland Motor Museum’s Classic Drive and Ride In Day. With around 150 vehicles in attendance – it was an impressive accolade to say the very least. The 1969 Land Rover Forward Control IIB was originally built for the British Army, but it was sold off in 1974 when it was road registered and went on to be used as a site fire engine by the agricultural machinery giant Massey Ferguson. It was converted into a fire engine by HCB Angus.
It is powered by a 2625cc six-cylinder petrol engine and is four-wheel drive. Of the 2305 IIB models built, 1254 were fitted with the 2.6-litre engine. It is now owned by 26-year-old Kieran Hall from Ulverston who was among the scores of people who attended the traditional Boxing Day gathering at the Lakeland Motor Museum. “It was a lovely day out made even nicer by going home with a trophy,” says the young enthusiast who has only owned the fire engine for around two months. “I’ve always liked Land Rovers. A relative of mine was mad about them. I used to go round and ride around in them. I also have an ambition to be a firefighter so this is a dream vehicle really.”
Kieran takes home the Best of Boxing Day trophy which is something of a classic itself. It was created from a vintage Hohm engine that was part of the museum’s reserve collection. It was cleaned up, mounted on a wooden plinth and turned into a trophy.
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