↓ Advertise on Defender2 ↓

Home > Series Land Rovers > Ken Wheelwright
Post Reply  Down to end
Page 1 of 2 12>
Print this entire topic · 
defender9



Member Since: 12 Mar 2016
Location: Fylde Coast
Posts: 1629

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 SW Keswick Green
Ken Wheelwright
For those of you who have an interest in Series Ones, Ken Wheelwright will be a familiar name. Sadly I have to report that Ken has passed away at the age of 86. I had known Ken for 30 years and we had attended many rally’s together, he was a real old school Gentleman and will be sadly missed by his family and friends in the Land Rover community. Condolences to Doris, Frank and the family.
Post #739628 10th Nov 2018 9:37am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17450

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
Very sad. A pioneer, and a master of restoration.

His Leyland Beaver transporter (later immortalised by Oxford diecast) is/was a pinnacle of awesomeness!
Post #739716 10th Nov 2018 7:01pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
LandRoverAnorak



Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11324

United Kingdom 
That's a real shame. His restorations were fantastic and restoring the transporter to transport his collection was inspired.


Click image to enlarge


 Darren

110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak

"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia
Post #739722 10th Nov 2018 7:14pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Tomcat 106



Member Since: 08 Jun 2015
Location: Essex, just.
Posts: 125

2016 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 CSW Corris Grey
Sad to hear this. Never had the chance to meet him but his work was quite amazing. A true perfectionist who rebuilt some great Land Rovers.
Bow down MY15.5 110XS CSW
1956 88" S1
2004 Tomcat 106 Comp safari
Post #739732 10th Nov 2018 8:14pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Rashers



Member Since: 21 Jun 2015
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 3514

United Kingdom 2014 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Corris Grey
How very sad. A great loss to the Land Rover world.
Post #739738 10th Nov 2018 8:32pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Moneypit



Member Since: 27 Feb 2018
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 271

2004 Defender 110 300 Tdi HT Fuji White
Sad news
Post #739742 10th Nov 2018 8:48pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
JOW240725



Member Since: 04 May 2015
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 7907

United Kingdom 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Orkney Grey
Sad news, thoughts are with his family and friends. James
MY2012 110 2.2TDCi XS SW Orkney Grey - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic43410.html
MY1990 110 200TDi SW beautifully faded Portofino Red - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post743641.html#743641
MY1984 90 V8 Slate Grey - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post744557.html#744557
Instagram @suffolk_rovers
Post #739756 10th Nov 2018 9:49pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Swine&Small



Member Since: 20 Mar 2017
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 1223

United Kingdom 
"ditto" 1983 Series 3 Pick up in Marine Blue
1967 Morris Traveller
1966 Morris Convertible
2012 VW T5 Camper
Quod Abundat Non Obstat.
Post #739762 10th Nov 2018 10:20pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Slideywindows



Member Since: 09 Sep 2016
Location: North Essex
Posts: 1286

England 
Only just seen this.

Mortified to learn of Ken's death.

Knew Ken well as a fellow member of the 48-53 Register.

He came with a group of us on an early 80" convoy to Switzerland in 1998 and was great company.

His restorations will live on in his memory.
Post #739932 11th Nov 2018 8:25pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
JOW240725



Member Since: 04 May 2015
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 7907

United Kingdom 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Orkney Grey
LandRoverAnorak wrote:

Click image to enlarge


Seeing this at the LRO Show a few years ago was a real hightlight, it was just stunning. I had assumed it was JLR's themselves, praise to Mr Wheelwright. Bow down James
MY2012 110 2.2TDCi XS SW Orkney Grey - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic43410.html
MY1990 110 200TDi SW beautifully faded Portofino Red - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post743641.html#743641
MY1984 90 V8 Slate Grey - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post744557.html#744557
Instagram @suffolk_rovers
Post #739934 11th Nov 2018 8:35pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
defender9



Member Since: 12 Mar 2016
Location: Fylde Coast
Posts: 1629

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 SW Keswick Green
The Transporter is now owned by Landypoint in Germany.
Post #739956 11th Nov 2018 9:47pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17450

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
Ah, I wondered what had become of it.

If I recall correctly it was a replica built on what was originally a mobile x-ray unit. It differed from the original Leyland Beaver transporters that Rover operated because Ken wanted to be able to use the lower deck without having to strip the tilt and sticks and fold the windscreens of the vehicles to be loaded, so he designed the raised top deck. If you compare photos of the replica with photos of the original the difference is clear, on the original the top deck is flat at the height of the bit over the cab.

When Oxford Diecast produced a 1:76 model of the vehicle, they copied the replica not the original. Dinky Toys, back in the 1950s, produced a model to approx 1:48 scale of the original transporter. This is now rare and very costly in good condition.

I always felt is was a minor shame that he didn't build the matching drawbar trailer, as used with the original, but simply to produce what he did was superb.
Post #739991 12th Nov 2018 9:09am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
strang



Member Since: 16 May 2012
Location: Happy Valley
Posts: 1381

United Kingdom 2009 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Galway Green
I only live a few miles from Ken - went to his farm a couple of times, he was a really nice gent. If anyone did the Defender tour, and remembers the tilting Series One in the Heritage part of the tour, that was one of Ken's restorations. Euro-Leafing to infinity and beyond.....
Post #740111 12th Nov 2018 7:25pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Slideywindows



Member Since: 09 Sep 2016
Location: North Essex
Posts: 1286

England 
This one:


Click image to enlarge
Post #740173 12th Nov 2018 9:16pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
100inch



Member Since: 15 May 2012
Location: Brunswick
Posts: 411

Australia 2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 CSW Santorini Black
Very sad news. I remember him with his lorry and a few 80's during the 98 Belgium National. A big loss. m
Post #740223 13th Nov 2018 7:03am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Post Reply  Back to top
Page 1 of 2 12>
All times are GMT

Jump to  
Previous Topic | Next Topic >
Posting Rules
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum



Site Copyright © 2006-2024 Futuranet Ltd & Martin Lewis
DEFENDER2.NET RSS Feed - All Forums