Rover Supreme?
| Author | Paul Harris |
| Published date | 01 January 1980 |
| Date | 01 January 1980 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X8005300113 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
CHIEF
SUPERINTENDENT
PAUL
HARRIS
A von and Somerset Constabulary
Motoring Correspondent
of
The Police
Journal
ROVER SUPREME?
For
more years than most ofus care to remember the Land Rover has
occupied a niche in world markets unchallenged by others.
The
vehicle has earned itself such a fine reputation as a rugged workhorse
that
it has become ahousehold word in the rural areas of many
countries. More recently the sophisticated and up-market Range
Rover has become established in some similar and some additional
market areas. Such is the popularity of these vehicles
that
Leyland
Cars have never been able to bring production up to the levels of
demand despite promised profitability. At last a new production line
is being laid
and
the future for Land Rovers and Range Rovers might
seem brighter.
Strangely enough other vehicle manufacturers have been slow to
produce challengers in this field of special vehicles which can double
as cars one day, tractors the next, tow extraordinary payloads and
negotiate most terrain as well as a horse. The last two years however
have seen many types of vehicles emerging to invade the earlier
sovereignty of the Land
and
Range Rover markets. I do not
doubt
that
all contributors will have experience of operating
Land/
Range
Rovers
and
the time might be ripe to give some attention to the many
options available. Police will certainly have a need for specialist all
terrain/all wheel drive units as long as we operate vehicles.
Accordingly I have been looking in some detail at the products of
other
manufacturers, mostly recent imports, and comments will
follow on any vehicles likely to serve a purpose for police where road
conditions are sub-standard. Space precludes detailed discussion in
one issue of this
Journal
so other vehicles will be reviewed in the
next edition together _with a brief reminder of Land
and
Range Rovers and tabulated lists for comparison purposes.
Yak Yeoman
This vehicle makes no pretence at being anything other than a
utility truck. Its design is functional to allow for ease of construction
and cheap repairs, but in my view can only be regarded as ugly. It isa
new design produced by a British company with the backing of the
National Research Development Corporation. It uses basic
components from the
Ford
Escort and therefore has many
attractions to the fleet user, and is almost aMeccano set in
that
it is
built from steel sections which bolt together.
80 Police Journal January 1980
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