An Iconic Land Rover with a Mission to Change Lives
At Archibalds, not only do we have a deep passion and appreciation of luxury automotives, but also a strong drive to help our community and country. So, when Julian Paton, Professor of Physiology and Director of Mannaki Manawa, Centre for Heart Research, approached us with Drive4Hearts—his mission to raise $300,000 for children with rheumatic heart disease (RHD) by driving his “new” 1948 Land Rover on a 1,800 km journey—we knew we wanted to be a part of it.
The Land Rover, dubbed “Twenty”, pays homage to its official production number when completed at the Land Rover Factory in Solihull, near Birmingham, in 1948. It was shipped from the United Kingdom on the 16th of September, arriving in Wellington, and registered on the 28th of October 1948. Originally travelling alone, Twenty was intended to be a demonstration vehicle for New Zealand. It embarked on a similar tour to the one Paton has now recreated showcasing its unique 4WD capabilities. On 30th November 1948, the Otago Daily Times published a feature on the vehicle, calling it the “British Version of a Jeep”.
Paton, originally from the U.K. himself, has a deep love of the iconic British brand, and has been working on Series One Land Rovers since he was twelve years old. To date, he has restored seven, including five from the first year of Land Rover’s production in 1948. But when he’s not restoring Land Rovers, he’s developing a natural pacemaker/new heart valve for children with rheumatic heart disease.
Each year, around 1400 children in New Zealand develop RHD. For those diagnosed, life is filled with multiple high-risk, painful operations. The artificial valves currently used do not grow as the heart develops, causing them to leak and fail over time. RHD not only leads to severe loss of quality of life, but also, in many cases, tragic early deaths—most before the age of 20.
So, when Paton, Twenty, and his safety sidekick—a new Land Rover Defender—cruised into Christchurch, Archibalds made an event of it. The Land Rover showroom became the perfect setting to celebrate the rugged, long-lasting beauty of Land Rover and this incredible fight to save children’s lives.
Taking centre stage, Twenty was the vintage gem that no one could believe still existed. In signature olive green, albeit weathered by the years of adventure, Twenty stood strong, its angular lines and boxy frame, a testament to Land Rover’s origins. Inside, the cabin reflects the essence of pure functionality while minimal instrumentation reminds you Twenty was built for work first and play second.
As the afternoon faded to evening, guests lingered over a smorgasbord of canapés and refreshments, sharing conversation around the common thread that brought them together—the love for Land Rover and a desire to give New Zealand children a fair chance at life.
Before seeing Twenty and his crew off, let’s take a moment to remember—it’s up to us to shift the gears in this life. Together, we can drive change.
Join us in supporting Drive4Hearts by donating via JustGiving. Every contribution helps give children with RHD the life they deserve.
Let’s make a difference, one mile at a time.
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