1952 Land Rover/Minerva Series I 4x4 Ambulance

• Belgian-built Land Rover
• Rare ambulance variant
• Supplied new to the Belgian Army
• Restored in 2012
• Offered from a private collection of Series I Land Rovers

Lacking the resources to produce a new car of its own after WW2, Minerva engaged in a series of collaborations with British manufacturers, assembling the Standard Vanguard saloon under license and then concluding a deal with Rover for the assembly of Land Rovers for the Belgian Army. Commencing in 1952, the 80"-wheelbase Land Rovers were supplied as 'CKD' (Completely Knocked Down) kits of running gear, which Minerva then bodied in steel at its Antwerp factory to meet the Belgian Army's requirements.

British-built Land Rovers had aluminium bodies and there were numerous stylistic differences between the British and Belgian versions, most obviously the front wings. The running gear, though, was all Series I Land Rover. The vast majority of vehicles produced were 80" models which went to the Belgian military. Production switched to the 86" model when that was introduced in 1954, but in mid-1956 the contract between the two companies was terminated. Minerva went on to develop their own 4x4.

The vehicle offered here was converted in the 1950s (possibly from new) to a field ambulance to carry two casualties on stretchers. One can only imagine how uncomfortable those casualties must have been! The concept of converting a standard vehicle to carry stretchers by means of a metal frame to support their weight and extending the tilt to cover them, was first used on Jeeps in the Second World War, and later used on Austin Champs, Series I Land Rovers and Minervas. The idea was that the additional equipment needed to carry the stretchers could be easily removed so the vehicle could be used for other purposes.

Examples of Minerva ambulances are extremely rare, with only a handful known to have survived with their equipment preserved. Restored in Belgium by a Land Rover enthusiast in 2012, the vehicle was exhibited at the Dunsfold Land Rover open day and purchased by good friends of the vendor. The vendor acquired the vehicle a few years later. It is described by our vendor as in generally excellent condition and offered with a UK V5C registration document.