Land Rover
Forward Controls
Brought to you
By DasLandRoverMan
The
Judge Dredd 101’s
The
Judge Dredd 101’s came into being in 1995 when Land Rover were approached by
Hollywood Pictures, to supply vehicles for their new film, based on the 2000AD
comic books of the same name.
Director
Danny Cannon approached Land Rover as in his eyes, Land Rover would be the only
manufacturer left in the future, and also the only one capable of building
vehicles tough enough to withstand the toils of life in Mega City one.
Land
Rovers design office had heard of Cannon’s plans, and had time to produce a few
concept sketches before they were officially approached, and although he
already had ideas of his own, the director was taken by one of the Land Rover
concepts, based along the theme of an American Football helmet, and also
following the lines of a stealth bomber.
The
Forward Control layout of the concept meant that it was impractical to use a
Defender chassis and mechanicals for the project, and after some head
scratching it was decided that the 101 Forward Control, in stripped down form
would make an ideal base for the vehicle.
The
Prototype was built up on a LHD chassis, and also had a fully trimmed out
interior. To add to the size of the vehicle the wheels were mounted backwards,
and large glass fibre wheel extensions were fitted, these were painted to give
the impression of a rubber tread poking through armoured steel.
Delighted
with the outcome of the prototype vehicle, the studio ordered 31 more to be
built. Moulds were cast from the prototypes body, and 31 more produced. The job
of finding, and converting 31 more 101’s was contracted out to Dunsfold Land
Rovers.
The
task of finding 31 more 101’s, especially all LHD ones (as the film was set in
Brian
Bashall searched military auctions, and vehicle dealers, and eventually turned
up the required number of vehicles.
Most
were built up in the yellow ‘City Cab’ colours, although there were also a
number of City Utility vehicles in Silver, and Mobile Kitchens in Red.
After
filming the vehicles were put out on display at the Land Rover factory in
The
prototype vehicle, and others were used for promoting the film during its
release, and also toured the
After
interest in the film had died down most
of the vehicles went back to Dunsfold, some were sold as was, and others had
their bodies removed and were rebuilt as 101’s. Some of the vehicles sold
complete were used as promotional vehicles by their buyers, and some were also
adapted for use on the road (the lighting arrangements had to be modified)
LEGS, the engine and gearbox remanufacturer used one in such a capacity for
quite a while.
Crown
Audio systems also used a Dredd 101 as a promotional vehicle, Starting with a
rather run down vehicle, it was rebuilt to a high standard, and packed out with
a huge amount of audio and video equipment, to the point where the vehicle is
driven using a joystick, and a monitor screen, utilising 12 cameras positioned
around the vehicle.
The
vehicle was built up in 2003, and still serves as a promotional vehicle at
Audio and Visual Technology shows.
Dredd
101’s were also well received into private hands, the following pictures show a
vehicle that has been road registered in the UK, I’m currently unsure as to
what’s happened to it, so, if you know anything, please let me know.
Land
Rover kept some of the Dredd 101’s, and at least one is on display at the
It
recently appeared in LRE magazine being driven around the off road course by
James Taylor.
