What is your name and where are you from?

I'm Sébastien, 56, single and a farmer near Châlons-en-Champagne, East of FRANCE . I have fields only: no animals except Daddy, my Beauceron dog and Shirley my Suffolk sheep, Shaun the sheep's cousin:) Only Champagne: no wine it's not my cup of tea.

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What sparked your interest in Land Rovers?

When I came back to the family farm after the Army, I needed a 4x4. My Dad had a Jeep CJ7 2l n/a diesel 60HP: I preferred a European 4x4 with a V8 power. I remembered that when I was 7 years old, I was addict of the TV series “Daktari” with Judy the monkey, Clarence the lion, like my Luey (wink for the Land-Rover experts)...and many Series of course! I had found my 4x4: a Land-Rover (with the dash please!)

How did your passion for Land Rovers develop?

In 2008, after 10 years of hard labor, I started a collection of very rare Series only: APGP amphibious, Pink Panther, Shorland 4 doors, Stage One HCB Angus 6x6, Forward Control bus prototype, Judge Dredd. My crazy year was 2010: I bought 34 very rare Series of the Ketil's collection (Norway) sold by John Craddock. At the moment, I have more than 100 Series at home. It's the reason why my nickname is the Crazy French Farmer.

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How has your family influenced your passions?

For a long time, the family of Bruno my father (RIP) and Michelle my mother were farmers : when I was young, I had learnt to preserve the traditions and the old items. When you preserve vintage items, you begin always a collection.

How do you use your talents for your passion for Land Rovers?

My father was a good mechanic like Alec (smile) and he taught me all: for example, I know how to rebuild completely a V8. To find a pearl, my friends in Europe help me find many, especially Jon of Cross Chanel Classic, my English friend. To drive "la Mule" my vintage truck car transporter 8 places, I drive like my Massey Ferguson and her dumpster 18t: easy (smile). For English, I have learnt alone while reading the Land-Rover magazines and the forums on Internet: I don't speak English, I speak Land-Rover !!

Do you have a favourite Land Rover model?

Very very hard question.

In my collection, my favourite is “Early”, the first Land-Rover I have buy: an early 110 V8 (engine number 82) pick up LHD green cockpit.

In the Land-Rover production, it's the 101: perfect wheel base, V8 engine, permanent 4x4, forward control like “Martin” my 101 LHD RAF capstan Nokken. Only 42 built.

When did you first come across the story of aSLAn?

I love vintage travels in Series. 10 years ago, I discovered Alec, Jan and aSLAn in an article of Land-Rover Overland magazine. Immediately, I have like the philosophy of this incredible trip around the world. Later, I have discovered that Alec was a military mechanic on helicopters and on Twin-Otter Aircraft in Antarctica and Jan a military nurse. I was captured !

What has been your involvement with the story of aSLAn?

In 2021, Alec and Jan in Germany have contacted me to know if the crazy French farmer could keep aSLAn in my barn. Of course, I have accepted this Mission: Impossible. (Smile)

The 19th of May, it was mission accomplished.

Now four years later, aSLAn has left for Belgium, before going to Sweden to be restored by Laurens de Smet’ garage.

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Where have you explored more?

In January 2000, I left to Morocco with Marie my daughter, 7, and Oscar my Beauceron dog on board “Early” my 110. It was magic, an unique moment. With Marie, we speak often of this incredible travel of 4,000 miles.

For my collection, I went about forty times to United Kingdom. I went too in Norway, Malta, Ibiza...

Is there anything else you would like to say about your hopes and dreams?

Hope: I have for project to reduce my Collection to 26 very very rare Series. To know which models I will sell, follow me on FaceBook: "Sébastien Land-Vintage"...with the dash.

Dream: to find the unique, very special 109 2A Cuthbertson “Demonstrator” tracked.