[johy]

Hi folks,

Spotted the beauty and the beast in a local hotel in Siliguri this morning. I will let the pictures do the talking. Cellphone pics - please pardon quality.

[wasif]

Wow great spotting.

Looks like a team doing a trans continental trip. Do you have full side views of the car ? Notice its prepared for long distance driving with an alternator and those trip meters on the passenger side.

Any info on the drivers and the others in this team ? What route they have taken to reach there ?

[MARCUS_520i]

Going by the number plate on the truck and the stickers on both the vehicles, it's pretty clear that they're not from here.
And why has the Lagonda been through so many cosmetic modifications??
Loved the massive grille on that one, however the dash is kind of a major let down.

The LandRover truck looks pure unadulterated expedition material to me and looks pretty complete too!!
So any idea as to what were they here for??

[shankar.balan]

simply superb - great finds!
thanks for sharing

Just to look at these makes one happy on a working day after a nice long weekend!

cheers

[beejay]

Nice find Johy. The route mentioned on the map does not cross through India. Amsterdam to Amsterdam.

[wasif]

Originally Posted by MARCUS_520i

Going by the number plate on the truck and the stickers on both the vehicles, it's pretty clear that they're not from here.
And why has the Lagonda been through so many cosmetic modifications??
Loved the massive grille on that one, however the dash is kind of a major let down.

The LandRover truck looks pure unadulterated expedition material to me and looks pretty complete too!!
So any idea as to what were they here for??

Boss that dash is all original except for the veneer on the surface. Its obviously a well used but original car.

Look at the oval sticker on the side it marks the route of the expedition they are undertaking. I sm sure this stop was one of many in India.

The route doesn't mention any stops in India but actually shows the cars shipping out from Calcutta.

Our members from Cal should investigate when they will reach there and do some more pics and talk to the team.

[beejay]

Originally Posted by wasif

The route doesn't mention any stops in India but actually shows the cars shipping out from Calcutta.

Now how did you figure that the cars were shipped out of Calcutta?

[wasif]

Originally Posted by beejay

Now how did you figure that the cars were shipped out of Calcutta?

I didn't say they wer shipped out already but I think they will be based on the below.

Well look at it this way. Assuming this set of pictures is of a recent spotting in the last few days look at the route from Lhasa. it veers into India.

Now which is the port in that location where the line ends in the Bay of Bengal.

[Spitfire]

Going by the sticker they started in 2006. They took 3 years to reach here. Looks like they are having a heck of a good time.

Awesome. And the LR truck WOW!!!

[johy]

I think they are part of the trip and seems they have come here via Nepal and should be heading down to Calcutta before being shipped across to Kuala Lumpur. Will try to get more pics if I visit the hotel again in the evening. I could not meet up with the owners.

The spotting was this morning (29th Sept, 2009)

[Prithvi]

The Landrover Truck is called the Forward Control 101. Awesome beast. A Collector item.

[predatorwheelz]

Originally Posted by johy

I think they are part of the trip and seems they have come here via Nepal and should be heading down to Calcutta before being shipped across to Kuala Lumpur. Will try to get more pics if I visit the hotel again in the evening. I could not meet up with the owners.

The spotting was this morning (29th Sept, 2009)

Johy, do us a favour and get to know when the convoy reaches Kolkata and where they plan to put up. Its not everyday that one gets to see a 1960's LR 101 Forward Control truck in India (in fact, there are none AFAIK).

Will do anything to pay them a visit and see the monster in flesh.

Originally Posted by wasif

Our members from Cal should investigate when they will reach there and do some more pics and talk to the team.

My feelings exactly!

[harit]

Very interesting these round the world or long distance trips. That is a lovely Lagonda, at the first instance I thought that this was one of the long lost Lagondas coming to light.
These trips are now a bit rare, but they have been done in the olden vintage days also. Attached is a report copied from a Mag, duly credited.
In the old days roads were a problem, in the present dats safety and political issues are a problem.

About the Land Rover, it is an ideal back-up vehicle to help the Lagonda if required. Must be carrying spares too. Therer was one such land Rover lying in Bombay in the end of 1970's. It was British registered, and must have come on such a tour. It had broken down and was lying with a workshop in Opera House. But gone since long.

From the article you can also see that Calcutta was used even in those days to ship cars for their onward journey.

This article is again from a magazine received from a fellow tbhpian

Cheers harit

[MARCUS_520i]

Originally Posted by wasif

Boss that dash is all original except for the veneer on the surface. Its obviously a well used but original car.

Look at the oval sticker on the side it marks the route of the expedition they are undertaking. I sm sure this stop was one of many in India.

The route doesn't mention any stops in India but actually shows the cars shipping out from Calcutta.

Our members from Cal should investigate when they will reach there and do some more pics and talk to the team.

Oops!! My bad. Vintage car illiteracy strikes again.
IMO, a car with such a beautiful bodyline deserves a better dash than just a few meters and gauges, and a ply background!!

[karlosdeville]

To continue on cross country driving, here is a Vauxhall that drove to Bombay from London in 69. Thanks moralfibre.

http://www.thomson-caravans.co.uk/th...ory/bombay.htm