HC Classics

Like many others, we noticed a shift in behaviour during the COVID lockdowns. With all the restrictions in place and everyone sitting at home twiddling their thumbs, ‘projects’ of all natures were on the rise including, but not limited to, vehicle restorations. There was an air of practicality to the trend – we weren’t allowed to travel abroad but were still desperate to get away somewhere, so the ‘staycation’ rose to popularity. Sales of camper vans have soared by over 150 per cent since the first lockdown, according to analysts at Auto Trader. Sufficed to say, our imagination was roused. What would be our ultimate ‘staycation’ vehicle? What features would we include? Where would we take it? Oh, the possibilities! The ‘staycation’ was about to get an upgrade.

After much discussion among the team, we made a decision. Most of us had previously or currently owned Land Rovers and loved them for a variety of reasons.

Every year, hundreds (maybe even thousands) of Land Rovers are extracted from their would-be final resting places of old barns and rust-ridden scrap yards by optimistic enthusiasts hoping to realise their dream of restoring one of Britain’s most iconic vehicles. Sadly, these dreams are often rudely interrupted by the reality of time, skill and knowledge.

This is where we found ourselves at an advantage; we had all of the above. But we wanted to be a little different which is why we chose the Land Rover Discovery Series One to restore. It seemed that everyone else was doing up their Army-style Defenders and elegant Range Rovers but the Discovery appeared to be overlooked. Initially, we believed it might be due to the perceived expense in taking on such a project but there are ways around that with a little imagination and innovation.

Land Rover itself is a key player in British automotive history, and for good reason. They are well-known for their rugged reliability and are synonymous with adventure; the unsung heroes of expedition. Well, we are more than willing to sing their praises. We bought our first Discovery and restored it to a reasonable specification.

Our Land Rover Discovery is designed for life – the life you want. A lot of the inspiration for the features we’ve included came from our current clients and what they would want and expect from such a vehicle. One is anything but limited with this car. Its versatility means it doesn’t have to sit in the garage waiting for the next adventure, it can conveniently be used as your everyday vehicle until the mood takes you and you’re ready to set off to anywhere your heart desires. Into the depths of muddy woodlands, across an unforgiving desert or beachside under a palm tree.

Its space and custom features create the perfect recipe for a family adventure, no compromise needed. And with the world opening up again you now have the choice to drive or transport it to whichever destination takes your fancy.

Our bespoke Land Rover Discovery is for the family who want an adventure that goes beyond what the tour guide can give them. It’s for the family who want to experience life up-close and grab it with both hands.

This iconic vehicle, which was once tipped as the ‘affordable Range Rover’, has progressively moved upmarket through successive generations to become a bona fide luxury SUV in its own right. It is widely regarded as a strong and versatile vehicle that can survive the toughest off-road terrain whilst simultaneously serving as your everyday family car.

So why mess with perfection?
While the Land Rover Discovery does boast a smart simplicity in its utilitarian function, a little upgrade never hurt anyone.

HC Classics have been known to push the boundaries of automotive restoration. Our mission is to create a unique lifestyle accessory by accelerating the evolution of the Series 1 Discovery. Imagine the Land Rover lovechild of a Swiss army knife and Adonis.

We have been acquiring mid-90s models of the Series 1, stripping them down and reinjecting them with a taste of the good life that represents a unique individuality.