It was a labour of love for The Killarney Valley Classic and Vintage Club, which restored a 1989 Land Rover 90, putting it to the test on Rossbeigh Beach, Co Kerry. Weeks of hard work and generosity has given the Land Rover a whole new lease of life, deeming it ready to be raffled off to one lucky winner in November 2018 – all in the name of charity.

The club’s community spirit has been evident, with an array of fund raising charity events organised within the close-knit group throughout the years. Last year’s main project was the remodelling of a Massey Ferguson 135 tractor. This particular assignment generated almost €50,000 for charity, inspiring the club to take on an even bigger challenge this year with the old Land Rover 90 venture. Restoring the jeep comes just in time, as this year marks the 70th anniversary of the Land Rover range.

The club sourced the old Land Rover through a friend of the organisation in Co Cork. The vehicle, which had been off the road since 2002, had clocked up only 82,000 miles in its lifetime. Tom Leslie and John Coffey from the Killarney Vintage Club describe the scrupulous but worthwhile restoration tale: “The vehicle was in good condition except for the bulk head, which had a serious rust issue, with the chassis and other components well maintained.

“The club decided to do a complete dismantle last November when the project began, including the full galvanising of the chassis to give it a modern look. The club added a sump guard, winch, roof rack, awning, LED lights and a full body spray was carried out to make it a dream machine.”

Club chair James Looney estimates that it took over 300 hours of voluntary time to complete the restoration. He thanked the club members for their support, as well as the sponsors and supporters, without whom the restoration project would not have been possible to complete.

“The project was a great social event for our committee and club members and we would like to sincerely thank everyone who got involved with the project,” said James. “It would not have been possible to complete the restoration without your help and support, which is greatly appreciated.”

Central to the heart of this year’s project are Down Syndrome Kerry and Recovery Haven Cancer Support Group, with all proceeds going to the worthy causes.

To support these honourable organisations and be in with a chance of winning the restored Land Rover, you can purchase tickets at a cost of €10 each.

For more information and to be in with a chance, visit at www.killarneyvintage.com. Tickets are also available directly from the charities or from various outlets throughout the county. The Land Rover will be showcased at a range of events throughout Kerry over the summer months. The final draw takes place on 17 November 2018.

To find where the jeep might be stopping next, keep an eye on www. facebook.com/killarneyvalleyvintage/.

For further details on the raffle, contact club secretary on 087-3381842.

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