Sometime in the spring of 1955, six men, five of them recent Cambridge graduates, one of them still a student at Oxford decided they would do what nobody had done before: drive from the heart of the British Empire to one of its most far-flung outposts in a Land Rover Series 1.
One of those five, Adrian Cowell, had planned the previous year’s Oxford and Cambridge Trans-Africa Expedition driving Land Rovers from London to Cape Town and back, reportedly after making a bar bet, but was unable to go, so he began planning the expedition to Singapore.
At the time it was the longest of all overland journeys: halfway around the world, from the English Channel to Singapore.
The Last Overland expedition team started their journey from Singapore to London yesterday, in one of the most historic automotive events of the 21st Century. The team aims to recreate the original 1955 route charted by The Oxford & Cambridge Far Eastern Expedition (The First Overland).
The team of eight, including Nat George, grandson of Tim Slessor (a member of The First Overland), and Singaporean Larry Leong, will drive the original 1955 ‘Oxford’ Land Rover Series I used in The First Overland.
The Flag-of in Singapore
On an expedition to return ‘Oxford’ to its home in the UK, the team was flagged off from the start line at the Singapore F1 Pit Building in Marina Bay, a location fitting for the beginnings of all grand motoring adventures. In attendance were the Expedition’s key supporters – including Singapore Tourism Board, Jaguar Land Rover Asia Pacific, Opihr Gin and AKE Group – and members of the public.
As part of the fanfare to commemorate the flag off, a record-breaking convoy of 90 Land Rovers escorted ‘Oxford’ to Singapore’s border with Malaysia. Driven by local enthusiasts, including members of the Land Rover Owners Singapore, this momentous occasion is a celebration of a global love affair between Land Rover and the motoring world.
Travelling through multiple cities, this expedition not only marks the historical recreation of an iconic journey in motoring history, but also celebrates friendships forged across borders. Along the way back to London, the Overland team will be welcomed by Land Rover enthusiasts from across twenty countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Bulgaria and Belgium in a line-up of various major press and marketing events.
Mr Robin Colgan, Managing Director, Jaguar Land Rover Asia Pacific Region, said, “Land Rover has always been synonymous with exploration and we have never lost our spirit of adventure. For more than 70 years, our vehicles have taken people to the far reaches of the world. We are extremely proud that ‘Oxford’ is still going strong after all these years and is ready to do it all again. As Alex and the team embark on The Last Overland, we wish them the very best of luck on their adventures to come.”
