Robert Harrison's love affair with Land Rovers stretches back to the age of 13 on his grandfather's farm.

Robert with one of his Land Rovers

Eager to prove his driving skills, even at such a tender age, he was quick to jump behind the big wheel of his grandfather's veteran 1952 Series One for some four-wheel drive fun, but it proved to be a memorable experience.

He said: "I thought I would take it off-roading and drove it over the muck heap, but I got it stuck.

"All my grandfather said was 'Now get out of that.' It was then that I found out how capable Land Rovers really are!"

After that Mr Harrison, now 24 and a residential negotiator at Cluttons estate agents in Oxford, was bitten by the bug and it wasn't long before he was tinkering under the bonnet of his family's vehicles.

His grandfather, Vincent, and father, James, both owned classic American Ford "Woodies" -- huge station wagons so called because their rear sections are made entirely of wood, while a traditional V8 provides the power.

So a fascination with cars ran in the family, but it was the combination of fun and practicality which attracted Mr Harrison to Land Rover.

His first car was a 1975 Series Three which he bought as a pick-up but converted to a short wheelbase station wagon.

"I rebuilt bits and repainted things and gradually brought it round until it was running smoothly."

Mr Harrison, who lives in Osney, Oxford, discovered the great advantage of Land Rovers lies with the all aluminium bodyshell which of course does not rust.