Steve Beres and Ike Goss discuss the newly revealed Freelander, debating whether the images show a real production vehicle or a concept pushed out after a crash-test leak, and they comment on its bold styling, screen-heavy interior, and unusual seating and door design. They cover Land Rover news including Tiger Woods rolling a Range Rover in an alleged DUI incident, a viral Sudbury car-park video featuring a machete-wielding motorbike theft and a Defender intervening, and a reported 61% jump in JLR sales alongside jokes about Jerry McGovern’s departure. Ike shares Pangolin4x4 shop updates on a repeatedly botched transmission rebuild and the importance of correct tolerances, plus progress on two Michigan Land Rovers bought sight unseen. They also preview Tom Pickford and Bill Cooper driving the famous Pollyanna to the SCARR rally and mention Steve’s new diode laser tool for marking parts.

00:00 Show Intro and Hosts

01:20 Freelander Reveal Buzz

01:52 Concept or Production

02:38 Wild Interior Tech

06:27 Design Stripe Debate

09:02 Can You Buy It

09:44 Tiger Woods Rollover

12:06 Defender Vigilante Video

15:33 JLR Sales Spike Talk

16:46 Pangolin Shop Updates

17:40 Gearbox Rebuild Autopsy

18:27 Bushing Failure Explained

19:29 Why Tolerances Matter

21:35 Customer Fallout and Fix

22:41 Dialed In Land Rovers

24:28 Michigan Barn Finds Update

28:16 Pollyanna Road Trip

30:08 New Diode Laser Tool

33:12 Wrap Up and Next Week

Steve Beres and Ike Goss cover a bleak week of Land Rover news, including JLR temporarily halting production at the Solihull plant for two weeks due to a supplier dispute affecting Range Rover and Range Rover Sport. They discuss leaked crash-test photos of the new Freelander (developed with Chery), noting its larger SUV proportions, bold Freelander branding, and a stripped, modern JLR-like interior, along with reports of a $58,000 entry price and plans for the UK rather than the US. They revisit the confusing status of design chief Gerry McGovern, with new reports saying he will step down at the end of March. The hosts also note the British Army retiring its iconic Land Rover fleet with replacement expected by 2030, speculate about surplus sales, debut a “Would You Rather” segment, and mention a new Anaconda film opening with a classic Defender scene.

00:00 Show Intro and Hosts

01:31 JLR Halts Solihull Production

02:37 Freelander Crash Leak

04:32 Freelander Design Breakdown

08:17 Pricing and Market Plans

09:19 Jerry McGovern Exit Saga

12:10 British Army Retires Land Rovers

15:17 Defender Import Dreams

15:44 Would You Rather Begins

16:55 Heater Core Nightmare

18:32 Creepy Seat vs Enya Loop

21:59 Viewer Submissions Call

22:24 Defender Spotting in Anaconda

25:13 Project Hail Mary Rovers

25:40 Where Is Jerry McGovern

26:25 See You Next Week

https://classiclandrover.com/2026/03/20/british-army-to-retire-iconic-land-rover-fleet/

https://www.autonews.com/jaguar-land-rover/ane-jaguar-design-boss-mcgovern-starts-consultancy-0320/

https://www.autoblog.com/news/new-land-rover-freelander-leaked-after-crash-test

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3931xz101do

Steve Beres and Ike Goss discuss JLR’s new international Defender Awards and how they differ from the existing Defender Service Awards, including the judging-panel process and some winners. They review spy-photo news suggesting the Range Rover Velar is becoming a more wagon-like, road-focused vehicle, and debate why the newer Range Rover logo appears inconsistently on vehicles and the website. They cover controversy around a Chinese company’s Range Rover-like vehicle and ad copy. Steve then interviews Joe Hesselman of Lost Cause Ranch about his new car-wash-based shop with three-phase power and expanded CNC capabilities, plus his Land Rover projects including a six-wheel Discovery 2 and a Discovery 4 chopped into a tray-back “El Camino”-style pickup with custom aluminum flatbed and toolboxes. The episode ends with a brief film recommendation, "Sorcerer" (1978).

00:00 Show Intro and Hosts

01:20 Defender Awards Explained

03:53 Winners and Weird Highlights

04:57 Velar Update Wagon Talk

06:40 Range Rover Logo Mystery

08:27 China Copycat Ad Drama

11:02 Defender Lookalike SUVs

17:51 Interview Joe Lost Cause

19:15 New Ranch CNC Upgrades

24:35 Fleet Updates and 6x6 Disco

27:43 Chopping a Discovery Tease

28:13 El Camino Dreaming

29:38 Why Cut the LR4

30:37 Sourcing the Rear Cap

31:31 Slicing It in Half

33:53 Designing the Flatbed

36:28 All Aluminum Fabrication

39:58 Underbed Box Mastery

42:09 CNC Press Brake Talk

45:57 Future Ranch Projects

49:54 Utes and Car Culture

52:08 Sorcerer Movie Pick

54:23 Wrap and Next Week

Steve Beres and Ike Goss open the Underpowered Hour noting a planned interview with Land Rover drivetrain expert Matt Jackson was lost due to a failed new “internet interview machine.” They cover Land Rover news, including the UK-only Range Rover Sport SVR Ultimate Edition with a 3.7-second 0–60 time, VIP handover, 500 units, and a £145,995 price. They discuss Chelsea Tractor Company expanding its signature body kits to vehicles like the Grenadier and Jeep, plus a line of pedal-equipped electric bikes and a heavily vented Defender build with an awkward fuel-filler tunnel. They preview the new Defender Trophy selection process in British Columbia, with 190 North American competitors and Jennifer Fibble competing for a finals spot in the UK. Ike also shares acquiring a recognizable 1950 Series I and a 1955 pickup from a Michigan estate sale and updates on a 109 wagon build with disc brakes and upgrades.

00:00 Show Intro and Hosts

01:19 Guest Interview Fails

02:02 Range Rover SVR Ultimate

03:28 VIP Perks and Tech

05:36 Wheels Seats and Pricing

06:49 Chelsea Tractor Body Kits

08:13 Chelsea Electric Bikes

12:28 Defender Guana Widebody

14:46 Design Details and Fuel Door

16:23 Chelsea Tractor Swell Kit

17:21 Defender Trophy Returns

18:37 Instagram Stage Training

20:42 Estate Sale Rover Haul

22:23 The Blue Series One

25:21 Shop Build 109 Wagon

25:54 Michelin XZL Tire Talk

27:04 Tractor Tangents and Tips

28:18 Busy Shop and UK Plans

29:56 Next Episode Tease

Steve Beres and Ike Goss skip the news to interview Helen and Marcella (“The Gazelles”) about their debut run in the Dakar Classic in a self-built classic Land Rover. Helen explains how her first desert rally idea began with Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles in 2019, how she and Marcella—friends for over 21 years—became teammates, and why in-car chemistry matters under stress. They describe building their Dakar vehicle “Purdy” from the ground up after an outside build effort failed, using a pre-inspection for peace of mind before shipping the car, and arriving surprised to see big teams still wrenching in the bivouac. They share standout moments, including meeting top competitors, encouragement from Saudi spectators, and a last-day crisis where hitting a rock caused two flats and required help from another team. They discuss on-course assistance rules, helping others in dunes, lessons learned, and hint at future adventures.

Intro and Hosts

01:18 Why This Dakar Interview

02:49 Meet the Gazelles

03:30 How the Idea Started

05:30 Finding the Right Teammate

06:30 Team Chemistry in the Car

08:26 From Gazelles to Dakar Timeline

09:15 Building Purdy from Scratch

10:45 Skills and the YouTube Build Series

12:54 Logistics and Pre Inspection

16:49 Arriving in Saudi Race Bubble

18:49 Meeting Legends and Local Moments

21:05 Was Dakar a Success

22:22 Racing Under Cameras

23:58 Finish Line Tire Crisis

25:48 On Course Support Rules

27:29 Helping in the Dunes

28:50 Whats Next Adventure

30:10 Lessons From Dakar

33:57 Lightning Round

36:21 Shoutouts and Motivation

38:48 Hosts Wrap Up

Steve and Ike welcome Olympian and cross-country skier Ben Ogden, calling in from Sweden as his race season continues after the Olympics. Ben explains how he got into the sport in Vermont, describes winning silver in the men’s individual sprint and again in the team sprint with Gus Schumacher, and breaks down sprint race format, tactics, and the major role of ski selection and waxing support. The conversation shifts to Ben’s 1973 Series III Land Rover restoration bought from Vermont restorer Lanny Clark: an 18,000-mile but heavily rusted, long-nonrunning “derelict” that became his off-season outlet. Ben details progress—bodywork, welding aluminum, marine blue paint challenges after a PPG discontinuation, rebuilt drivetrain, brakes, and remaining wiring and interior bits—plus other vehicles, motorcycles, knitting, and a quick lightning round.

00:00 Show Intro and Hosts

01:22 Meet Olympian Ben Ogden

02:13 Why Cross Country Skiing

04:16 Olympic Silver Medal Story

06:54 Ski Wax and Prep Secrets

11:50 Land Rover and Olympic Skiing

14:14 Ben’s Series III Project Begins

19:04 Restoration Progress and Paint Drama

21:54 What’s Left to Finish

22:31 Dash Trim Hunt

23:17 Care Package Offer

23:45 Oregon Off Road Plans

24:10 Other Rigs Garage Tour

26:14 Volvo Trucks And Military Oddities

27:53 Motorcycles And Learning Wrenching

29:00 Knitting As A Project Fix

30:20 Sweater Reveal And Restoration Mindset

33:21 Lightning Round Q And A

34:38 Thanks And Sign Off

Steve Beres hosts an episode of The Underpowered Hour from John Masters’ podcast studio in the English countryside while Ike Goss is traveling. Steve is joined by John Masters, Camel Trophy legend Bob Ives, Land Rover mechanic Dan Ives, and Nick Dimbleby after a day driving two matching GAC Camel Trophy vehicles, including one Masters restored and another recently acquired vehicle associated with Ian Chapman/Bob Ives. They discuss the history of the four Moscow/Red Square GAC Discoverys (560–563), the unknown whereabouts of 560 and 561, and details of Masters’ restorations, originality and patina, and how hard the vehicles were used in Camel Trophy selections and training (including water “tide marks,” mud inside chassis rails, and stories about A-bars/ropes used to link vehicles). The group also talks about current Land Rover topics including the Defender Trophy, Dakar coverage and logistics, the appeal of recognizable vehicles in rallying, and hopes for more manufacturers competing in Land Rover’s Dakar class. Nick shares updates on his Freelander trip in India (about 2,000–2,500 miles, up to roughly 14,000 feet, with three Freelanders and two cracked expansion tanks) and a Freelander incident involving an animal nest fire. Masters mentions his next restoration project: a 1985 Camel Trophy Ninety Dutch team vehicle currently in Spain with a raised roof and other modifications. Nick also recounts driving a Range Rover “Popemobile” with a fake pope during a 1995 Rover France project celebrating the end of classic Range Rover production. The episode closes with plans to have Nick and Lisa on to discuss the India adventure, and joking updates about trying to get proof of life from Land Rover’s Jerry McGovern.

Camel Trophy Legends Ian Chapman & Tom Collins: Knife Fights, Hurricanes, and the Stories Behind the MudSteve Beres and Ike Goss host an episode of The Underpowered Hour recorded during extreme storm conditions at the Camel Trophy 45 event at Eastnor Castle. They interview longtime Camel Trophy organizer Ian Chapman and Camel Trophy and Land Rover legend Tom Collins, covering stories from past events including a confrontation involving journalist Robert Pelton Young, memories from Madagascar 1987, and how former competitors became key support staff. Chapman and Collins discuss Land Rover’s limited role in organizing Camel Trophy, how vehicles were chosen based on availability and marketing launches (including Defender, Discovery, Range Rover, and Freelander), and why the event ultimately worked because of the people and the selection process. The conversation includes notable incidents such as a famous windscreen-penetrating log accident, helicopter crash survivals, a minefield navigation story during a pre-scout, and reflections on the lasting camaraderie of Camel Trophy reunions. The episode ends with thanks to the Camel Trophy Owners Club and event organizers, and a promise of future Land Rover podcast episodes.