LR partners with Bowler to produce rally-raid models

[Oilworker]

At the end off my little road trip this video was shot....

PistonHeads - World´s fastest SUV?



Enjoy!

[haven]

The on-road driving segment starts about 3 minutes into the video, the off-road driving at 7 minutes.

Looks to me like the Expeditions 7 group chose the wrong vehicles for their round-the-world drive!

[Oilworker]

I know at least two records that should be easily breakable with both cars ;-)

[The Swiss]

Driving one of these for a day: Now that would be something for my bucket list Not to mention taking one of these to Baja I guess my rally racing heritage (my Dad) just my passion for overlanding.

BTW, in the first video; is the phrase "objects are closer than they appear" on the right mirror written in Arab? Guess tells you which one of the main target market is for those vehicles.

[4Rescue]

Hay Haven, wasn't the Wildcat based off the Defender, Not the Disco???

Either way these are some fun looking rigs aye. Funny that at a time when LR's line up has never been LESS off-road capable that this turn of events transpires. Maybe this is step back in the right direction aye. I also wonder if anyone will get crazy enough to do something like this to one of those new Lambo Ute's running around the internet.

Cheers

Dave

[Oilworker]

And finally the very first Bowler EXR-S is ready, too.
It was actually finished late November and then presented to Land Rover, the customer, before christmas in December.













(Images courtesy of Bowler Motorsport / I appologize for the speckles in some of the images)

All you need now is a FIA Spec, flame resistant, Tuxedo and of you go!
550bhp, pretty lightweight and FIA Spec cage....I can´t wait to take that car up the Avenue Spelugues to the Casino

[oryxexpeditions]

Hay Haven, wasn't the Wildcat based off the Defender, Not the Disco???

I think the original Bowlers were Defender based, but then at that time all the Rovers shared the same basic chassis and drivetrain. Later ones definitely use the Disco II axles because they were wider and stronger than the Defender/RR/Disco ones. As far as the rest, it is probably a combination of different Rover and aftermarket parts.

[SteveMfr]

Axles? As in 'live'?
Methinks not...


Suspension – EXR

The EXR rally car uses fully independent suspension with geometry that has been designed and modeled to give specific competition handling characteristics. Combining the low centre of gravity, wide track and long wheelbase produces exceptional stability and driver comfort at all speeds, over all terrain.

The EXR rally has 3-way adjustable Donerre dampers, which include their patented fast rebound system, and hydraulic droop and bump stops. These dampers feature remote reservoirs that are positioned to benefit from cool air supplied by the bonnet ventures and side scoops, thus ensuring constant and reliable performance even in desert racing conditions.


http://www.bowlermotorsport.com/wp-c...05/EXR_PDF.pdf

[oryxexpeditions]

Axles? As in 'live'? Methinks not...

Suspension – EXR

The EXR rally car uses fully independent suspension with geometry that has been designed and modeled to give specific competition handling characteristics. Combining the low centre of gravity, wide track and long wheelbase produces exceptional stability and driver comfort at all speeds, over all terrain.

The EXR rally has 3-way adjustable Donerre dampers, which include their patented fast rebound system, and hydraulic droop and bump stops. These dampers feature remote reservoirs that are positioned to benefit from cool air supplied by the bonnet ventures and side scoops, thus ensuring constant and reliable performance even in desert racing conditions.


http://www.bowlermotorsport.com/wp-c...05/EXR_PDF.pdf

Right, not the latest which as you say are based on the latest Rover designs. Rovers have been successful rally contenders going all the way back to the Paris-Dakar winning Mark I Range Rover.

Dakar 1.jpgDakar3.jpgDakar2.jpg

[Oilworker]

Well, it all started with an old 86" Series I, Drew and his brother found on the farm (where he´s build all cars ever since) and took racing.

A blacksmith by profession he mainly made these products before he started racing or, more precise, before he started building rally cars





The company started 1984 and it was soon after that they build the first customer car.

Drew, always pushing hard and trying to innovate with the products that were available to him, build the first ARC-spec car, combining Land Rover and Range Rover bits, thus creating the first coil sprung Land Rover (!)

1985 - Comp Safari (UK)


1986 - Customer Comp Safari car


1986 - Drew Bowler


2012 - The Bowler Story (from rear to front: EXR - Nemesis - Wildcat - Tomcat)




2012 - Drew Bowler with the very first EXR


Want any more images from the archives?

A great reportage about the Bowler history was published in Land Rover Monthly (December 2012).