Oxford Diecast 76LRFCG001

Land Rover FC GS 1974 Trans Sahara Expedition

Manufacturer catalogue image - please note that pre-release images may be CAD renders or CGI/AI images rather than photographs

Prototype Eras
Era 4 (1948 to 1956) British Railways Early Crest
Era 5 (1956 to 1966) British Railways Late Crest
Era 6 (1967 to 1972) British Rail Blue (Pre-TOPS)
Era 7 (1972 to 1982) British Rail Blue (TOPS)

Manufacturer description

The Forward Control or Land Rover 101FC was produced exclusively for the British Army as a gun tractor and was never made available as a civilian vehicle. It was designed to tow a field gun with a ton of ammunition and other equipment which would have been stored in the rear load space. Developed in the mid 1960s, production took place between1972 and 1975.

For its first adventure, our 1:76 scale Land Rover forward control is decorated as used by the expedition members of the Trans-Sahara expedition in 1975 under the leadership of explorer Tom Sheppard, then still serving as a squadron leader in the RAF. Three of the four vehicles in the team were fitted with a powered trailer drive and all of them were given military registration plates. Our model represents the fourth which was not fitted with a powered trailer and was registered 60 FL 38. The expedition plan was to make the first crossing of the Sahara Desert from west to east - a feat never achieved - with previous expeditions always making the journey from east to west.

Painted in dark green with a lighter green canvas back and lots of contrasting external silver trim, the vehicle features their west to east route across Africa on the two cabin doors printed in white, as well as a patriotic Union Flag to the side of the radiator grille. The Land Rover FC would have been a natural choice of vehicle to make the journey across the Sahara, unfazed by the heat and the dust!

Catalogue listing

Oxford Diecast Land Rover FC GS 1974 Trans Sahara Expedition – model number 76LRFCG001. The die‑cast model is a 1:76 scale representation of the Land Rover 101 Forward Control (FC) used by the British Army as a gun tractor between 1972 and 1975. The vehicle was designed to tow a field gun and carry a tonne of ammunition and equipment in its rear load space.

The model is liveried as the fourth vehicle of the Trans‑Sahara Expedition of 1975, led by Squadron Leader Tom Sheppard of the RAF. Unlike the other three vehicles in the expedition, this example did not have a powered trailer and carried the military registration 60 FL 38. The coating is dark green with a lighter green canvas rear, silver external trim, the expedition route printed in white on the cabin doors and a Union Flag displayed beside the radiator grille.

The model depicts the period of British Railways Late Crest and is intended for collectors of historic military and expeditionary vehicles. It is offered in a boxed packaging with standard Oxford Diecast presentation.