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Driving the Rovers of Judge Dredd, Tomb Raider
These things still run?
By Howard J. Elmer, Canwest News ServiceApril 3, 2009
Herefordshire, England — What do Sylvester Stallone and Angelina Jolie have in common with an Arctic adventurer? They have all driven specially built Land Rovers. And while each is unique to its task, at least two are just a bit over the top. These built-for-the-movies trucks were featured in the Stallone flick Judge Dredd and Jolie’s Tomb Raider in which she stars as the Land Rover-driving Lara Croft. These vehicles were, of course, built for shows, but they still go and I got to drive them.
Here at Eastnor Castle, which sits at the centre of a 2,023-hectare estate in Herefordshire, England, the Land Rover Experience not only offers driving instruction on new Rovers but also has a great Heritage collection of vintage and one-off vehicles, most of which can be driven on the grounds.
Driving through the stone-arched main gate of the castle, it was the very out-of-place Judge Dredd City Cab that caught my attention first. Built around a donor body from a late-’70s forward-control Land Rover truck, this “cab” from the year 2139 is the only complete model, though there were 31 (in various build stages) made for the movie shoot. The cab was capable of carrying six passengers and now tours various shows.
Next to that was the Tomb Raider truck — again one of three built. It was mostly used for static shots and so has a fully functional interior. Running a 4.0-litre V8 with special exhaust, it was built on a 110 model Defender chassis. While many of the features on the truck were for show only, it drives like there is a mummy chasing it.
Across the pea gravel parking lot was what looked almost like a wreck of something rather than what it was — a desert patrol vehicle specially built for the British Army Special Air Services based at nearby Hereford. This truck was in service from 1986 to 2005 and was used in Iraq and Afghanistan.
It’s 3.5L V8 engine drives a full-time 4WD setup on a ladder frame with steel plates underside. It’s anything but comfortable with solid axles front and rear — both sprung with coil springs.
On the strange side was a Defender riding on tracks. This vehicle was prepared to its unique specification in support of a Transglobal Expedition led by Sir Ranulph Fiennes in 1996 (third cousin of actors Ralph and Joseph Fiennes).
Fiennes set out on a driving challenge that took this vehicle from the United Kingdom across Europe and Asia to New York without using shipping or aircraft. How? By crossing the sea ice of the Bering Strait between Russia and Alaska. Powered by a 3.0L diesel engine, Fiennes also insulated and installed auxiliary heating to make the truck more comfortable. The tracks in place of tires were built by a company called Mattracks and specially installed at the factory. Last (but certainly not least), a rear power takeoff was added to turn a paddle wheel, while a set of removable pontoons floated the truck across the icy Bering Sea — just in case. Apparently, it all worked out. For my part, all I can say is it’s a real pig to steer.
Source: http://www.canada.com/Cars/story.html?id=1456611