Series IIA 109: Deep penetration SOV (1968)
Welcome to our 'toughest' Land Rover! The infamous, SAS prepared, "PINK PANTHER" - also familiarly know as the "Pinkie".
The list of this remarkable vehicle's special features includes extra fuel tanks, grenade launchers, radios, GPMG machine guns, SLR rifles in wing boxes, flare guns, axle guards, water cans and bladders, sun compass, search lights plus many other items that you would not have found on Land Rover's options list at the time. Whilst it is 'fully loaded' we should reassure anyone who might be tempted that the two GPMG's are certified as having been permanently decommissioned ... there is a level of realism that not even we can achieve.
A man (who it is best not to argue with) has shared with us that 10 FG 97 was demobbed in 1984. But only after seeing action in Oman (Middle East), Jordan and Kenya (Africa) and Belize (South America). In the field it would typically carry 3 SAS penetrating deep into hostile territory.
There were just 72 such vehicles ordered under contract by the SAS from Marshalls of Cambridge. We are fortunate enough to hold two of these sought after military classics in our collection, the other in Green camouflage (see the thumbnail link below)
So why the name, 'Pink Panther'? That's easy. Look at her colour. Affectionately nick-named after the cult film franchise featuring Peter Sellers as the inimitable Inspector Clouseau. And why Pink? Experimentation on dessert deployments proved that pink was the optimum camouflage colour to allow the vehicle to lose itself into the dessert heat haze. So much so that on occasions even the tyres were painted pink! Once you have seen this battle vehicle you will never think again of pink as a 'girlie' colour. The name, "Pink Panther", caught on and is now used generically for the entire fleet of these exciting vehicles regardless of the camouflage of the day.
This vehicle faithfully reflects its condition at the end its service life. It is presented in its dessert camouflage pink paintwork offering an amazing patina leaving one in no doubt of its pedigree. This particular vehicle is quite a celebrity. It has been extensively photographed and featured in many magazines, books and has also appeared on television in service.
More InfoMarshalls of Cambridge were awarded a contract to work with the SAS to create the optimum long range patrol vehicle for 'behind the lines' operations. You may struggle to find it underneath all the 'tough stuff' but if you look carefully you will recognise this as a 1968 Series IIa. 72 two were built under this contract and all were shipped to the SAS regiment headquarters at Hereford, from where they were discretely deployed around the World's hot-spots.
Part of:
Series II/IIA
Military Rovers
The Collection
Vehicle Owner: Land Rover Heritage Collection
Want to help take a look at our get involved pages.
Know something about this vehicle contact us.
