Land Rover "Batmobile" made by two enthusiasts can be bought for 200,000 euros

The design of the original Land Rover is iconic but not necessarily aesthetic. At the time, it was designed in a purely functional way, which made it practical and effective on all terrains.

This design was maintained for decades until the arrival of the second generation Defender . However, some have tried to improve it by softening its raw look with a more sophisticated image, although the results may not have lived up to expectations.

Based on a 1967 Series II Land Rover

In the 60s and 70s of the last century, many people gave free rein to their imagination. In addition to unconventional official designs such as the Lancia Stratos Zero , there were also private designs which still remain difficult to define decades later.

This is the case of a car equipped with a 27-liter V12 block and a power of 1,000 horsepower. Recently we talked about this huge-nosed car designed to house a Merlin aircraft engine . Although it may seem crazy now, many people shared this vision back then.

An example is the Land Rover Bell Aurens Longnose . If you've never heard of it, that's normal because only two prototypes were made. Despite the intention of its creators to sell it in very limited quantities, it never achieved great success (which is not surprising given its design).

Thiesen , the company that sells the Bell Aurens Longnose , says this is a rare opportunity to purchase one of only two examples ever produced of this desert roadster . The asking price is €198,500.

By purchasing this car, the buyer will own one of the most exclusive Land Rovers ever made, as German designers Thomas Bell and Holger Kalvelage used a 1967 Land Rover Series II to shape this unique model.

Their goal was to design an aluminum SUV inspired by the sports cars of the 1930s, and they made it a point of honor to take care of every detail. While preserving part of the original bodywork, they enlarged the wheelbase and the front, while the rear became disproportionate to the front, almost ridiculous even.

However, there was justification for the length of the front. The creators, Bell and Kalvelage , planned to offer their Land Rover with various types of engines, one of which came from an airplane. Under the very long bonnet, they finally opted for a 4.6-litre V8 block sourced from the Range Rover , which they had modified at a specialist, JE Engineering , located in Coventry, UK, in order to increase the displacement to 5.0 liters and the power to 350 HP.

The interior is not left out either. Bell and Kalvelage decided that their Land Rover should be a two-seater and installed bucket seats with harnesses and trimmed in brown leather to match the wood of the center console, part of the dashboard, door panels and the boot gaiter. gear lever, which is inspired by a cricket ball.

The steering wheel is also covered in leather and has an original design, adorned with the logo created by Bell and Kalvelage. At the rear, the floor is wooden and has compartments with wooden lids as well. Next to the access door to this area is a petrol can in the same color as the body, in a specific location and held by leather straps, in the same way as the bonnet.

The windshield is still fully retractable and the roof can be completely removed. In addition, a leather canvas is used to cover the rear of the passenger compartment.