Fresh after returning from their epic across the world adventure, Alex and Nat make one final trip in Oxford up to Salford Quays, accompanied by Tim Slessor, for a chat with the BBC Breakfast team.
DSF (Malaysia): The Last Overland Completes Historic Expedition from Singapore to London
The Last Overland Expedition, after a 19,000 km road journey across the globe, has reached its final destination in the United Kingdom. Having crossed 23 countries from Singapore to London, the eight-member expedition team has successfully recreated one of the most historic automotive events of the 20th century – The Oxford & Cambridge Far Eastern Expedition (The First Overland), undertaken from 1955-6.
Gohed Gostan (Malaysia): The Last Overland Expedition achieves its goal in 112 days
The First Overland (formerly called The Oxford & Cambridge Far Eastern Expedition) was an expedition of 10,000 miles from London to Singapore in 1955/1956 with two Land Rover Series 1. One was named Oxford because 3 of its members were from Oxford University and the other was given the name Cambridge because its 3 members are from the University of Cambridge.
Mothership (Singapore): Group who set off by car from S’pore on Aug. 25, 2019 finally arrives in UK 115 days later
A group of eight travellers who set off from Singapore on an epic overland trip in late August have finally reached their destination, the United Kingdom, 115 days later on Saturday morning (Dec. 14).
The Hindu (India): A 64-year-old Last Overland travels from Singapore to London in 111 days
During my recent ride with Royal Enfield to the Everest Base Camp in Tibet, all of us were required to visit the customs office in Gyirong, the Tibetan border city on the Nepal-Tibetan border, where our bikes would be examined.
As we waited, a convoy of three ‘Landies’ trundled in. Of course, this piqued my interest because Land Rovers with luggage strapped on them here at the ‘Roof of the World’ certainly did not mean that they were out for a weekend drive. These cars had to be doing something fantastical, like a road trip from one continent to another.
Augsburger Allgemeine (Germany): Around the world in the ancient Land Rover: The Last Overland Tour from Singapore to London
In 1955, a few adventurers set out in two Series I Land Rovers. They were the first to drive from London to Singapore by car. It took them just over six months to cover the 29,000km. Now, a new group of adventurers, including the Grandson of former participant Tim Slessor has made its way back from Singapore with the Landy called Oxford.
Publimetro (Mexico): The Last Overland Expedition toured from Singapore to London, and met the new Defender!
The Last Overland is not just any expedition. Actually, it recreates the famous Oxford and Cambridge expedition to the Far East that made history in 1955 by being the first to drive from London to Singapore. Now, The Last Overland team has concluded its adventure trip and great challenges from Singapore to London, but not before visiting the manufacturing facilities of Jaguar Land Rover in Nitra, Slovakia.
Whichcar (Australia): The Last Overland completes its journey from Singapore to London
AFTER a total of 111 days on the road, crossing 23 countries and clocking up 19,000km, the eight-member team of The Last Overland Expedition reached its final destination of London early last month.
Autofilou (Austria): In the 64 year old Land Rover from Singapore to London!
The Land Rover that drove the legendary First Overland Expedition from Oxford to Singapore in 1955 is now returning the route as a 64-year-old car: by land from Singapore to London. 1 vehicle, 20,000 kilometers, 4 months, 23 countries!
Land Rover (Belgium): Land Rover Series 1 | The Last Overland
CqLiving (China): "The Last Overland" Expedition Visits Land Rover's Slovak Factory
In 1955, students from Oxford University and Cambridge University teamed up to drive a Land Rover Series I from London, England, and successfully arrived in Singapore after 6 months. , Completing Land Rover's first feat across the Far East. After more than half a century, the "The Last Overland" expedition consisting of eight explorers from the United Kingdom, France, the United States, Belgium, Indonesia and Singapore is on an expedition from Singapore to London to pay tribute pioneering. Recently, the expedition visited a new Jaguar Land Rover factory in Nitra, the western city of Slovakia.
MotoriOnline (Italy): Land Rover: stop at the Slovakian plant in Nitra for the "Last Overland" expedition
Stop in Nitra, Slovakia, for the team engaged in the "Last Overland" expedition. From Singapore to London, a journey in the opposite direction, following the famous 1955 expedition "Oxford & Cambridge Far Eastern Expedition".
Tires and Parts (Abu Dhabi): The Last Overland Expedition Stops at Nitra Factory to come face-to-face with New Defender
The Last Overland, a team that is currently retracing the route taken by the famous 1955 Oxford & Cambridge Far Eastern Expedition continued its journey from Singapore to London with a stopover at Jaguar Land Rover’s manufacturing facility in Nitra, Slovakia. The relatively new plant which was opened in October 2018 covers an area of 300,000 square meters and has the capacity to make 150,000 vehicles every year with its state-of-the art equipment. The plant is the first in Europe to use the Pulse carrier system from Kuka for a transfer time that is 30 per cent faster when compared to conventional conveyance systems and also has a highly automated paint shop process.
Zawya (Dubai): The Last Overland Expedition arrives at Land Rover's manufacturing site in Slovakia and comes face-to-face with the New Defender
Like any major expedition, especially one crossing so many international borders in such an old car, The Last Overland was not one without problems. One particularly memorable incident was a major mechanical mishap where Oxford’s back wheel fell off while Alex & Nat were driving at 70kmph in Turkmenistan, severing their brakes entirely.
Magyar Televízió (Hungary) : Recreating the First Overland for the First Time From London to Singapore
Financial Express (India) : The Last Overland | Reliving the greatest road trip, ever
In 2017, a Land Rover fanatic, Adam Bennett, recovered, refurbished and brought the ‘Oxford’ back to life in the UK. In fact, it passed the MOT (Ministry of Transport) test—vehicle safety, roadworthiness and exhaust emissions test in the UK—at the first attempt, and its original SNX 891 number plate was reinstated. In 2018, Bennett gifted the ‘Oxford’ to Tim Slessor (who documented the First Overland), Alex Bescoby (who is driving and documenting The Last Overland) and the team. In 2019, the original 1955 Land Rover is climbing mountains, and crossing cultures, for one last adventure.
GOVUK (UK): The Last Overland Adventure expedition arrived in Ashgabat
Spending more than 70 days on travelling by land from Singapore to London, the Last Overland expedition arrived in Ashgabat in their vintage Landrovers. We all enjoyed a ‘full English’ and ‘full Turkmen’ breakfast at British Ambassador’s residence together. It was great to hear the stories of the journey so far. It was then time to see Ashgabat.
Forbes (Asia): Historic Overland Journey From 1955 Gets Resurrected
(…) Officially called the Oxford and Cambridge Far Eastern Expedition, it was the longest overland journey ever made at the time. The trip took some six months, much of that time spent traversing rugged terrain, navigating bone-jarring roadways or blazing trails across Iraqi desert or through Thai jungle. The journey would be immortalised in literature and on BBC television (…)
Nepali Times (Nepal) : The long road home
(…) The Last Overland Expedition from Singapore to London was retracing the tracks of the journey 64 years ago by The Oxford and Cambridge Far Eastern Expedition. Six fresh graduates in two Series 1 Land Rovers named ‘Oxford’ and ‘Cambridge’ after their alma maters traversed 29,000km over 19 different countries in six months from London to Singapore. It was the first time ever the trip was done by road and inspired many others to follow. (…)
Read the whole story here: https://www.nepalitimes.com/banner/the-long-road-home/
Land Rover Monthly (UK): Oxford is heading home... again!
Thank you Land Rover Monthly for this epic read!
Read the entire story in Land Rover Monthly - November 2019 Issue