NEXT GENERATION DIARIES
Land Rovers are something of a Govier family passion, with a joint collection of seven – one of which is Natalie’s hand-me-down Series I
HOW DID YOU COME TO OWN YOUR CLASSIC?’
‘My dad and uncle are both into Land Rovers and bought a red 1952 Series I 80in more than 30 years ago, so I’ve been around Land Rovers my whole life – and I got in on the act when I was given a battery-powered, half-sized Series I for my fourth birthday! We’ve got two 1952 Series 1s, a 1984 100in Tomcat, a 1985 88in Bowler V8, a 1986 90 soft-top, a 1989 Ninety County Station Wagon and a more modern Freelander 2. I recently got added to the insurance for the red Series I, which has been modified and fitted with a 3.5-litre Rover V8, so I can drive that on the road, but I’ve been driving the 90s on private land since I was about 14.’
WHAT DO YOU USE IT FOR?
‘My dad and uncle use the two 90s daily but the Series Is are reserved for special events; I had the red one for my prom. We’re part of the Series One Club so we take them to regular pub meets in the West Midlands area. My nan and grandad were involved in the club and now I run its Instagram page so I’m very much involved with all its events, such as shows at the NEC and club stands. I’m also part of the Midland Off Road Club so we take some of the cars of-froading for friendly competition trials. We try to get them out on the road at least once a month if they’re not being used every day.
WHAT WOULD YOUR OWNERSHIP TIPS BE?
‘Keep on top of maintenance and fix things when you can rather than leaving it too long. We’ve tried to galvanise chassis and components where possible to give the vehicles a bit more longevity. When we restore them we do it properly to make them last. If, like me, you’re trying to learn more about how to fix older cars, take advantage of any expertise. Don’t be afraid to ask loads of questions to understand what’s happening and why. Clubs are a fabulous resource in this regard.’
WHAT DO YOU SEE BEING IN YOUR GARAGE IN FIVE YEARS’ TIME?
‘As well as all the Land Rovers we’ve already got, I want my own Land Rover Ninety – and I really like old-style Japanese cars. I’d love to get a Mazda MX-5 MkI as my first project car because I don’t think it would be too difficult to work on and learn stuff before I tackle something else more demanding. I’m currently waiting to find the right MX-5 – something that needs work doing to it, but not too much. It wouldn’t stay stock, though – I’d want to modify it by putting some nice alloy wheels on it, lowering it, changing the exha
