Cuthbertson Tracked

'Global Expedition' Tracked Land Rovers

Details: Category: Tracked and Half Tracked; Last Updated on Monday, 16 May 2011 19:30; Written by Site Admin; Hits: 6788

'Global Expedition' Tracked Land Rovers

In 1997, Land Rover agreed to sponsor an expedition conceived by Sir Ranulph Fiennes to drive around the world. Three Defender 110's were equipped for the trip, scheduled for 1998. This trip was to be called 'Global Expedition'.

The tour was to cover more than 37000 km via London, Moscow and the Bering Strait, before going down again towards the United States. A scouting mission was carried out, and the Mattracks equipped Land Rovers were tested in Alaska for durability in these harsh conditions. When BMW took over at Land Rover however, the trip was cancelled, and these tracked wolf spec. machines were now redundant. Soon after, a group of Rover employees were to do a trip to commemorate 50 years of Land Rover, the launch of Freelander, and take in 50 countries in 50 days - the Fifty/50 Challenge. At least one of the expedition vehicles was painted gold, the tracks were removed, and a few other modifications were carried out allowing it to be used as the support and communications vehicle to the three Freelanders used in the event.

Global Expedition Tracked Land Rover.
The Fifty/50 Challenge tracked and untracked.

Tracked Land Rover.

Global Expedition Tracked Land Rover.

Global Expedition Tracked Land Rover.
Similar vehicles.

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Cuthbertson Tracked Land Rovers

Details

Details: Category: Tracked and Half Tracked; Written by Site Admin

Around 1958, this strange looking vehicle conversion was launched by James A Cuthbertson, of Biggar, in Scotland. It was designed to go further in adverse off-road conditions than the conventional Land Rover.

Series I Cuthbertson

Series I Cuthbertson.

In most cases, a standard Series II long wheelbase Land Rover minus its wheels was dropped onto a sub-frame, and a track fixed around bogeys at each corner with a sprocket that replaces the Land Rover’s road wheels. The front tracks are steerable in the conventional way, the tracks turn as a whole for steering - aided by substantial power steering driven from the engine crankshaft pulley. However when 4-wheel drive is engaged, each track is powered at each corner with a different motion. This stops the side to side scrubbing of tracks when turning which tends to happen on conventional tracked vehicles.

The main advantage of this conversion was that it greatly reduced the ground pressure, making it ideal for marshy and wet ground. The main problem was that it was poor at climbing 'steps' (i.e.. banks) or over obstacles because they lack the front "ramp" of typical tank tracks. The tracks would tend to spin if the Rover hit a steep bank whilst traversing marshy land. The height was both an advantage and a disadvantage. Ground clearance was increased, but stability was reduced. Of the estimated 15 examples made, the last of these is thought to have been built around 1972.

The company continues to manufacture special vehicles, building snowploughs and road gritters.

Watch some video on Cuthbertsons and Road/Railers

Cuthbertson tracked Series Land Rover.
(Left) Lix Toll Land Rover's Cuthbertson tracked Land Rover.
(Right) Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon has an example of the Cuthbertson.

Gaydon's example of the Cuthbertson tracked Series Land Rover.
(Left) Another view of the Gaydon Cuthbertson.
(Right) A closer view of the track arrangement, lower wheels are rubber,
with a plastic cover on the tyre walls.