The Holy Grail of adapted Land Rovers

This really is an all-terrain vehicle like you have never seen before. Examples of Cuthbertsons have been adapted for Polar expeditions. The military also tested the application for explosives clearing duties, it’s gross weight being much less than that of a conventional tank and the tracks affording it a broader footprint through which to spread its weight. Less exotic sectors into which Cuthbertsons were sold (indeed the ones for which it was conceived) include the forestry industry and other users such as telecoms engineers who required access over marshy or other terrain not accessible to conventional wheeled vehicles.

This Cuthbertson completed manufacture on 8 September 1958 and was first registered as 'NHH 297' on the 12th of the same month. It was sold to SMT Sales and Service Company Limited of Carlisle. Notwithstanding the modest road speed of this exhibit, it does represent one of our more widely travelled exhibits. after the outset of the Series II, Land Rover created a Technical Sales Department (later morphing into the ‘Special Projects Department’) to assess and oversee all derivations and adaptions by after sales manufacturers. Gaining the approval such adaptions was dependent on LR’s judgement that the special treatment did not adversely compromise the donor vehicle. Approval was essential to allow the manufacturer to hold out the vehicle as a “ Genuine LR” retaining the all-important warranty and aftersales parts service in a similar manner to regular models.

After sales adaptions to the LR were modest during the period of Series 1 production. However inventive adaptions mushroomed soon after the introduction of the, more ‘sorted’, Series 2 and 2a. The Cuthbertson is a case in point.

Unfortunately little is known about the original user or the exact use to which this vehicle was put. However, with just 3,000 miles clocked in its lifetime it can be assumed that it was not worked overly hard. After its working life the vehicle made its way to Norway where it was held in an enthusiast’s collection. It was here that it lost its first registration number. Norwegian snowfall was an insignificant challenge for this vehicle. Some year’s later, in 2011, the vehicle came under the ownership of the German Land Rover disciples, 'Landy-Point' who in 2000 commissioned a full specialist restoration. This explains the vehicles exemplary condition today.

In 2016, our Cuthbertson must have been feeling home sick, because it travelled back to the UK gaining a new identity as ‘178 UYU’. It passed through a number of hands including being the star attraction at the prestigious Bonham’s Goodwood Revival Auction in September 2017. We got acquainted with 178 UYU when owned by the proprietor of one of the UK’s leading Defender performance re-engineering specialists and we are grateful that through him we are now the proud stewards of this remarkable example of a truly specialised LR vehicle. If you are planning to play ‘Off Road Top Trumps’ this is definitely the card to hold.

The business of Cuthbertsons* was established by an engineer, James A Cuthberston, as far back as 1936 in Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland. During the War years the business developed leading capabilities in the manufacture of rubber based heavy engineering products – including tracked vehicles, continuous belts and underwater pipelines. In peacetime James Cuthbertson went on to develop and market a wide variety of engineered products involved in coping with extreme conditions. Snow clearing, crossing inhospitable terrain and the like. It was its close proximity to the forestry industry that lead to experimentation that resulted in the vehicle that we now see.

A sub chassis was created that carried the 4 tracked boggies. This is mounted below an early 109” Series 2 chassis. Each boggy comprises two non-powered wheels that guide the 40, 12” wide, linked steel shoes that make up each track. Each shoe is finished with protective rubber pads for road use protection. The tracks gain their drive from each wheel on which is mounted a geared sprocket that engages between the passing shoes. An adaption of the power-assisted linkage from the steering rack to the front two bogies completes the job.

The Cuthbertson is powered by the LR’s regular 68bhp 2.25Ltr petrol engine delivering its power to all four wheels through a manual 4 speed gearbox. The controls and dashboard reflect the paucity of the day. The Cuthbertson boasts a top speed of just 35mph

178 UYU exhibits the standard forward towing arm. We understand that this was removed on many cases as it had a tendency of snagging if faced with severe entry angles.

Pictures indicate that this track configuration was mounted on a short wheelbase LR as Cuthbertson’s Mk1 test vehicle. But Mk2 was built on the 109” chassis, as were almost the entire commercial sales versions.

This is a rare beast indeed and thought to be the most 'sorted' exhibit freely available in the UK.

Incidentally, we keep our Cuthbertson in full working condition and every now and again she is taken for a spin around the more remote fields in our neighbourhood. Needless to say we are never short of volunteers for this task. Even though there is no danger of getting a speeding fine and the vehicle is road legal, we think it best not to interfere with others on the highway.

178 UYU has proven to be one of our ‘head-turners’ in the collection. You will have no trouble spotting her across the field on the occasions that we take it to classic shows!

‘*’ Post script - The business was incorporated as James A Cuthberston Limited in 1936. It continues to trade today from Biggar, specialising in all types of winter ground handling equipment: snow ploughs, snow blowers, gritters and the like. The company’s engineering prowess is still highly respected. It therefor also undertakes innovative project work particularly concerning belt driven material handling systems.