Land Rover Discovery Camel Trophy "Camel"
“Camel” is a 1992 Discovery 200 TDi used during the 1993 Camel Trophy adventure race in Sabah, Malaysia.
The car is powered by Land Rover's 200 TDi turbo diesel engine; with almost all of its operation controlled mechanically, it was well suited for the challenging conditions presented during the event. All electrics are sealed inside a waterproof case in the engine compartment; this allows the car to submerge in water up to the top of its windscreen without stalling the motor or damaging the drive train. The car is painted Sand Glow yellow, the official color of all Camel Trophy vehicles. The blackout on the hood is hand painted in matte black, and there are a number of event and sponsorship decals covering the car. The car rides on 7.00 R16 Michelin XZL radials; the rear counter panel is modified to allow for more significant axle travel without causing body damage.
The Camel is fitted with a raised air intake, as well as axle, gearbox, and transfer-case breathers, all of which rise to the height of the top of the windscreen. The underbody is protected by steering and fuel-tank plates, while the front bumper carries a brushbar with limb lifters and Dixon-Bate towing jaws.
A SuperWinch Husky-10 is fitted to the custom front bumper, with the winch rope first secured to a U-shackle, and then to the hook. This makes for much more versatility when rigging. There are also special hooks built into the brushbar, allowing the winch rope to be quickly wound around them, removing the need to spend time winding in the winch rope. A yellow master link is attached to the front and rear Bates jaws. The winch hook is clipped to this link for storage. Tow straps and a single specially made tow bar are located in the back of the car. The bar (when paired with another) allows the vehicle to be flat towed using the Bates jaws on the front of the immobilized vehicle and the single Bates jay on the back of the tow car.
The interior is fitted with a roll cage made by Safety Devices; this also acts as an attachment point for the Brownchurch roof rack, which bolts through the roof and into the roll cage. The front windows use manual window cranks, while the rear remains electric. This was done for safety; in the case that the electrics did go out, the window could still be rolled down and used as an escape path if needed. The front window switches were repurposed to control the four roof-mounted flood, and two bumper-mounted fog lights. A TeraTrip rally computer is mounted centrally on the dash, a Yaesu/Vertex FTL-2011 Radio Transceiver is installed in place of the dome light above the rearview mirror, and the antenna is mounted directly behind the Camel Trophy plaque in the center front of the roof rack. There is a small map light, power outlet, and winch control port installed into the center console; the radio was removed and replaced with a diagram of the shift pattern for the gearbox and transfer case as well as a voltage gauge.
The rear cargo area is separated from the passenger compartment with a metal cage; there is a permit shelf that divides the cargo area at the seat level, which has several different straps designed to secure the equipment and cases. The two storage areas to the left and right of the cargo space have unique Jerry Can holders allowing the car to carry 20L cans of fuel. Two Zarges K420 cases are stored under the shelf and hold the crew's food supplies; a wooden spare parts box is located behind them. There are a total of four Pelican 1600 cases on the roof that house the crew's personal effects and camping equipment. The roof is also home to the spare tire and EasyLift Air-Jack. Along the sides of the roof rack, a shovel, pickaxe, and four aluminum Marsden mats, or "sand ladders" are attached with custom brackets.
The Camel was used as an event vehicle during the 1993 Camel Trophy event in the Sabah region of Malaysia; it was used as one of the mechanics support vehicles and carried part of the team that kept the cars running during the event. It returned to France with the French team after the rally; it was used for many years as a training vehicle there until the end of the Camel Trophy in 1999, at which point it was purchased by the then-president of the French Camel Trophy Club. In January 2013, Camel left France for a three-month journey by ship to the Surrey docks in Vancouver, Canada. After spending several years in Canada, it was moved to its current home in the U.S.
Camel is a favorite at car shows across the U.S. and has been used for events and photo shoots. The car is in original "event" condition, and every effort is made to keep it preserved and running exactly as it was when it left Malaysia in 1993.