It’s been a busy start to 2025, and while it’s been quiet on the C&C socials, life behind the scenes has been anything but! Right now, we’re in the UK, catching up with family and friends up north, squeezing in as many cups of tea and pub lunches as possible before heading back to Sweden. But, as always, there’s a Landy twist to it all…
Meet Duke – The Newest Member of the Fleet
Above: After our first drive with Duke in 2025.
Duke is a Buckingham Blue Discovery 3, originally bought by my dad around three months after I got my late D3 (a silver TDV6). Back then, we had matching Discos—though his was a higher spec, which meant he got to tease me with snazzy little features like the pop-out cupholder on the passenger side, something I always envied. Over the years, Duke has been an incredibly capable companion, from green laning adventures to road trips down south with my parents and little brothers.
Now, my dad (like many Land Rover owners) is feeling the itch for something new. Although Duke is still a solid vehicle, he’s racked up quite a few miles and, like most D3s, has needed some patching up—thankfully, Britpart is keeping parts accessible for these ‘modern’ Land Rovers, which do tend to act up more than their predecessors. Given the secondhand market, Duke is at that tipping point where many would consider breaking him for parts… but that just felt like such a waste. Instead, we’re giving him some well-earned TLC, fresh winter tires (complete with smart new wheels), and suspension work to keep him going strong.
How Duke Joined the Family
Looking back, getting Duke was an adventure in itself. My dad and I spent weeks looking at different D3s and Range Rover Sports around Newcastle and Gateshead. I still remember the test drive—he had a few red flags, like a steering wheel cover (which we promptly removed to reveal, well… let’s just say, a very well-worn wheel). There were a couple of suspicious knocks and rattles over speed bumps, and let’s not even talk about the chrome trim that had been added to the exterior. That was gone by day two.
Oh, and the glove compartment? Let’s just say the previous owner was well-prepared for all kinds of adventures. Duke certainly had some stories to tell before he joined our family!
Living in the cold, rugged hills of the North Pennines, my family needed a warm, comfortable, and reliable vehicle to travel in, one that could handle the rough terrain while offering enough utility to take on everyday tasks. Duke was, without a doubt, the most versatile 4x4 we could find. Whether it was for family trips, getting to the shops in winter, or navigating the green lanes around the area, Duke has been more than just a vehicle; he’s been a trusty companion for all of life’s adventures.
Above: D3 Duke on the farm in 2023.
Prepping for Sweden
Fast forward to today, and Duke is about to start a whole new adventure. Yesterday, parts from @smetworks arrived from Holland—our go-to outlet for genuine parts whenever repairs or replacements are needed in the future. @laurens_de_smet has been working tirelessly to get him ready for his MOT next week, really getting to grips with the ins and outs of the D3. It’s been a steep but rewarding learning curve, with plenty of help from friends in the Landy community when needed.
So far, we’ve replaced a valve block, installed a brake pad wear sensor my dad already had lying around, and—miracle of all miracles—the dashboard warning lights are staying off! Duke is also now sporting a fresh set of winter tires, which Laurens sourced from Newcastle and we picked up just a few days ago. They even came with some jazzy new wheels, giving Duke a bit of a glow-up while keeping him ready for the snowy roads ahead.
Unlike many project Landys, we don’t plan on going crazy with upgrades (yet). Duke already has everything we need, including a set of Disco 2 safari lights that have been passed down from our old Discovery 1. My dad even made a custom bracket for them back in the day, making it easy to transfer them over. Here's an old YT video, back when I was 'Land Rover Girl', when we had just found them! Then it felt like we had struck gold, but you might be able to pick a pair up on the secondhand online market today! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LEF3dL1yu8&t=1s
The quirks we’re dealing with now aren’t so different from my last D3—mostly discovering that many of the original factory parts have lasted all this time without ever being replaced. It’s a testament to the quality of the genuine Land Rover parts from that era. My dad has always kept on top of maintenance, but if something isn’t broken, why fix it? Well… now, time has caught up, and we’re working through those little jobs one by one.
Above: Wheels an tyres are all ready for Sweden.
Now, I have to be careful what I say here—because my fiancé has a garage full of Defenders and Series Land Rovers—but if you ask me, the Discovery 3 is the ultimate Land Rover. If you want an SUV that’s actually a 4x4, this is the one. It strikes the perfect balance between everyday usability and off-road capability.
It’s a real shame that Land Rover went in such a different direction with the Discovery name. I’ve driven my fair share of Discovery 5s, and while I like them a lot, you won’t catch me talking about one the way I talk about the D3.
Above: My Pervious Discovery 3 TDV6, Chunk.
Why We Keep Coming Back to Land Rovers
If you’re new here, this is what it’s all about—why my partner, my family, and I keep getting drawn back to Land Rovers. It’s not because of their reliability (cue laughter). But if you’re mechanically minded, or just understand what it means to own one, you’ll always have your work cut out for you. And honestly? That’s part of the fun.
More than that, Land Rovers have given us friendships, memories, and connections over the years that go way beyond the vehicles themselves. Even if you don’t own one, haven’t owned one, or are just thinking about it, the Land Rover community always finds a way to bring people together.
Duke’s Future with C&C
Of course, we always find an excuse to fit another Landy into our travels and projects. I’d love to get a Cars & Crayons logo on Duke’s windows and make him feel like a proper work van—especially during fair and trade stand season. The amount of space in these things is endless, so I can already see our mugs and stock being transported with ease across Sweden.
For now, we’re gearing up for our last week in the UK, and if Land Rover life has taught me anything, a lot can happen in seven days. Before we know it, Duke will be on his way to Sweden, ready to take on whatever comes next.
More updates soon—wish us luck for that MOT! 🚙
