My ride for the weekend - Trek Series D2

[BDM]

This thing just sits and rots in our JLR parking lot. My manager finally agreed to let me take it for the weekend. I don’t suppose there’s too many of these left. It’s a shame Land Rover doesn’t continue this tradition.

This was the comp truck in the NA dealer Trek series where each dealer fielded a team of 2 in a Camel Trophy inspired competition.

Only 41k on the odometer mostly off highway miles. Of course the obligatory 3 amigos.

 

[Blueboy]

So why is it just sitting?

 

[jprover2]

Will it ever be sold? If not they need to properly preserve it.

 

[BDM]

I've asked my manager the same question and no one can give me a good answer. That said, it mostly has to do with the direction of Land Rover in general, which has been away from the utility side and biased to luxury. We used to have, as most dealers did, an man-made off-road obstacle course we would utilize on our test drives. They've since taken that out as well. This truck is the last relic of by gone era that once represented what this brand stood for. It's pretty sad to think about really.

The Hennessy's, whom I work for, were the first Land Rover dealership in North America. Mr. Hennessy actually had a farm in Social Circle, GA (appropriately named "The Farm") where the original Camel Trophy drivers would train. I had the unique opportunity to visit it in high school and drive Defender's, Disco's and RR's through the trial courses they had set up there. It was an amazing experience and offered a glimpse of what competing in CT was like.

The family still owns the farm but unfortunately it doesn't get the "proper" use it once did. Every once in awhile, they'll this Trek Disco down to run it through the paces.

Despite sitting for long periods of time, this Disco drives surprisingly well. It's a little beat up but everything works as it should. It drives straight and is pretty damn comfortable.

 

[BDM]

Will it ever be sold? If not they need to properly preserve it.

They'll never sell it. I've asked as have a few of the techs.

The techs actually keep it in excellent mechanical shape. Still, sitting in a parking lot is no place to keep a Rover.

 

[BDM]

My son loved this thing. Poor little guy cried when I told him we had to take it back.

 

[jprover2]

They'll never sell it. I've asked as have a few of the techs.

The techs actually keep it in excellent mechanical shape. Still, sitting in a parking lot is no place to keep a Rover.

It should be on the showroom floor, at least it should be in a storage facility out of the elements. I'm glad to hear it's mechanically well kept.

 

[Blueboy]

The Hennessy's, whom I work for, were the first Land Rover dealership in North America.

Is this when LR returned to the US with Range Rover?

Or were they around in the 60s/70s selling Series Rovers until LR pulled out of the US market?

 

[BDM]

Is this when LR returned to the US with Range Rover?

Or were they around in the 60s/70s selling Series Rovers until LR pulled out of the US market?

That’s what I’ve been told but I think you are correct, they are referring to the re-intro of the Range Rover in the US market.

Not sure if LR had dealers in the US in the 60/70’s?

 

[Blueboy]

they are referring to the re-intro of the Range Rover in the US market.

That would make more sense.

Yes, there were LR dealers in the 60s up until 1974 when LR pulled out of the US market.

This pissed off many folks and one of the main reasons they re-entered the US market as Range Rover.

 

[jymmiejamz]

That would make more sense.

Yes, there were LR dealers in the 60s up until 1974 when LR pulled out of the US market.

This pissed off many folks and one of the main reasons they re-entered the US market as Range Rover.

Were they actual Land Rover dealers or dealers that also sold Land Rovers? I don't know about more populated areas, but where I'm from in Richmond, Va, many of the British and Italian brands were sold at small independent dealerships. My understanding is that was the norm back then.

 

[jymmiejamz]

I was just doing some searching and came across this lawsuit from 1974. McGeorge still sells Toyota and Mercedes in Richmond.

David R. McGeorge Car Co., Inc. v. Leyland Motor Sales, Inc., David R. McGeorge Car Co., Inc. v...., 504 F.2d 52 – CourtListener.com

David R. McGeorge Car Co., Inc. v. Leyland Motor Sales, Inc., David R. McGeorge Car Co., Inc. v. Leyland Motor Sales, Inc. — Where the manufacturer tried to compel the dealer to accept an undesirable line of cars by withholding delivery to the dealer of a highly successful line of cars

www.courtlistener.com

 

[JUKE179r]

That's a bad ass Disco!!
I've always liked the color orange on cars especially the G4's and BMW M series.

 

[Howski]

The old LR dealer here (now Maserati) has a Trek D2 which I’ve seen on the road a handful of times. They’ve also got a CT D1 and Freelander, neither of which I’ve seen on the road before. Enjoy driving by them every day

 

[Blueboy]

I was just doing some searching and came across this lawsuit from 1974. McGeorge still sells Toyota and Mercedes in Richmond.

David R. McGeorge Car Co., Inc. v. Leyland Motor Sales, Inc., David R. McGeorge Car Co., Inc. v...., 504 F.2d 52 – CourtListener.com

David R. McGeorge Car Co., Inc. v. Leyland Motor Sales, Inc., David R. McGeorge Car Co., Inc. v. Leyland Motor Sales, Inc. — Where the manufacturer tried to compel the dealer to accept an undesirable line of cars by withholding delivery to the dealer of a highly successful line of cars

www.courtlistener.com

Yep, not uncommon to have a LR sign along with other marques.

Most Series Rovers were in the New England area. And the East Coast in general.