Vermont Rovers

VERMONT ROVERS Story and photos by Dave Sweetapple

PROPER PLACE / PROPER TRAILS

From One Hoard To Another

As a kid growing up in Newfoundland, I was obsessed with Series Land Rovers. The thing that I remember most, was that if someone owned one Land Rover, there were usually several others in various stages of disrepair somewhere on their property. At the time, I didn’t recognize it as “hoarding,” but that’s exactly what it was. Jump forward 40 years and I see Land Rover hoarding all around me — and I’ve become a Land Rover parts hoarder myself. As a Land Rover enthusiast, I have several like-minded friends who keep a constant ear to the ground, waiting to hear of a Series stash tucked behind a barn or down a path in the woods. Sometimes, they even hear of someone with multiple Land Rovers and an accompanying parts collection who decides to liquidate their inventory in order to simplify their lives. Last month, several of those instances oc- Late last Fall, 2020, my friend Matt told me that he was buying a curred simultaneously and right-hand drive Series III 109” from Dave Depasque in Pennsylvania, I had the pleasure of but Matt ended up getting trapped in Newfoundland due to increased stringing them together Covid restrictions. In early April, 2021, I decided to help him out and go for an epic road trip that retrieve the truck for him. (Also because, selfishly, I wanted the Salisbury logged over 1,700 miles — rear-end for my current 1961 Series IIA 109” build.) Matt said he was across eight states — over L-R: Dave Depasque, Glenn Parent, Sean Shabab going to modify the truck and had no need for the axle, so I jumped at four days. the chance. I called my buddy Glenn Parent, Woodstock, VT, who has a

Maine lobster pots are sacred and not for sale!

Above: Mike Capozza’s Dad’s ‘73 Series III back home again

On the road again Archaeological dig unearths a Series gearbox!

Wait, don’t leave, there’s more!

trailer and was up for the long drive down to At the time, I remember saying that I never Pennsylvania to bring the 109” home. wanted to do that kind of trip again — but

While this Pennsylvania run was in the now, one month later, I’m already looking works, two of my other friends, Sean Shabab forward to the next. and Mike Capozza, were on a hunt to track When we acquire Land Rovers and down Mike’s father’s ‘73 Series III 88”, one that Best part of the day, just hanging out parts, it’s not out of excessiveness or greed, his dad had purchased new from a dealer in but rather for the enjoyment of ‘the hunt’ Portland, ME. In 1975, Mike bought the truck from his Dad; eventually for these objects. Couple that with good friends going far afield on Mike sold it to a local lobsterman in 1989 to help buy his first house. an adventure, and it makes for a fun and memorable Land Rover-reThrough some sleuthing, Sean helped him track down the person that lated experience. In most cases, the ‘the hunt’ is better than ‘the kill’. bought Mike’s Series III and — low and behold — the lobsterman still Once the pile of derelict parts build up at the shop, I wonder if it owned the 88”— along with four other non-running Land Rovers. was worth tracking them down in the first place. Ultimately, the anFinally ready to part with them, he offered Mike a great package deal. swer always seems to be “yes.”

Now the mission was set. Glenn, Sean and I left Vermont early in On the way back to Vermont from Maine, Sean and I recapped the morning on a Thursday and drove to Depasque’s house in Southern the entire trip. He told me that our mission was successful, because Pennsylvania to pick up the first 109”. Upon arrival, Dave offered us we are saving all of these Land Rovers and parts from fading into access to a couple of sheds containing other available Land Rover parts. oblivion. He said that in 20 years or so, all of these old-time hoarders Between the three of us, we ended up with deluxe bonnets, body will be gone and the parts won’t exist any more. panels, a winch, gauges, seats, wheels, etc. Parts were crammed into I had to correct him by saying that we (and enthusiasts like us) every nook and cranny that would accommodate them, including the have become the same hoarders that we seek out now. /// engine bay of the 109. Sean even sat with an NOS wing panel across his lap. Once completely loaded, we headed back to Sean’s house in the Catskills of New York, arriving at 2:00 am. [Follow Dave Sweetapple on Instagram @VermontRovers and @RoversMag. Follow Rovers North @RoversNorth —ed.]

Feeling as if we hadn’t slept a wink, we were on the road again at 7:00 am Friday morning, headed back to my shop in Brattleboro, VT, to offload the 109” and the collected parts. Next stop — Capozza’s house in Portland, ME. We spent the next two days with him, visiting several other parts hoarders as well as recovering the remaining two Land Rovers that were part of the group containing his father’s Series III. Mike was only interested in keeping his dad’s 88”, a Series IIA 109” that originally belonged to his friend, Bill Vallerand, and a Range Rover Classic. The other two, both Series IIIs, an 88” and a 109”, came to us because Mike is overwhelmed with several projects and we convinced him they would be in good hands. Both of the Series IIIs are perfect candidates for restoration projects with very straight panels and many added features, such as a Brownchurch roof rack, Warn locking hubs and overdrives. On Monday morning, feeling fatigued, we pulled back into Brattleboro with the next load of Land Rovers and parts. Mike Capozza in his lair, eyeing the author going through his parts