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The Bell Aurens Longnose is a bespoke German conversion built around a Land Rover Series II, not a factory model. Its signature is an exceptionally long aluminum bonnet, a cockpit pushed back toward the rear axle and, in the example described by specialist coverage, a Rover V8 enlarged to 5.0 liters. The “1968” date refers to the reported beginning of the idea—not a verified model year.
What is the Bell Aurens Longnose?
German Land Rover enthusiasts Thomas Bell and Holger Kalvelage conceived the Longnose as an “off-roadster”: a combination of Land Rover character and classic British roadster proportions. It was a one-off-style coachbuilt project rather than a production Land Rover. Classic Driver’s 2008 feature described the concept and its creators.
The date in the headline needs qualification. BilNorge’s account, published 8 June 2023, says the story goes back to 1968, when the pair decided to transform a 1967 Land Rover Series II A. A Classic Driver Market listing identifies its vehicle as based on a 1967 Series II. The sources describe a 1968 project origin and a 1967 donor, not a factory-built 1968 model.
How did the Longnose differ from its Land Rover donor?
The defining change is its silhouette: an unusually long bonnet leads to a cabin displaced far back, with two seats just ahead of the rear axle. BilNorge reports that the aluminum body was shaped by hand at a small body workshop in Erlangen. At the rear, the car has a Morgan-like tail with some luggage space.
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That coachwork gives the vehicle its roadster proportions, while the Land Rover basis preserves the off-road identity behind the concept. Published accounts establish the donor and broad body layout, but do not provide a consistent, definitive specification for chassis changes, exact dimensions, safety equipment, road certification or driving performance.
What engine was fitted—and which engines were only proposed?
The specific vehicle described in the 2023-era Classic Driver Market listing used a 4.6-liter Range Rover V8 enlarged to 5.0 liters by JE Engineering of Coventry. The listing reports approximately 350 hp; that is a published vehicle specification, not an independently verified test result.
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| Powertrain | Status in published accounts |
|---|---|
| 5.0-liter Rover V8, about 350 hp | Reported as fitted to the example described by the Classic Driver Market listing. |
| Rover V16 | Proposed; the 2008 feature described a design made from two V8 units. |
| Rolls-Royce Merlin V12 | Discussed as a possible engine, not established as fitted to the described example. |
| Rover Meteor tank engine | Among the dramatic possibilities discussed in project coverage, not established as fitted. |
The V16, Merlin and Meteor belong to the project’s ambitions and publicity. They should not be confused with the documented description of the 5.0-liter V8 example. Classic Driver’s 2008 feature covered the proposed engine menu.
How many Bell Aurens Longnoses were built?
Published sources conflict on the prototype count. The Ottawa Valley Land Rovers newsletter of 15 November 2012 says one prototype was built and links the project’s end to the economic downturn’s effect on boutique-car sales. The 2023-era Classic Driver Market listing says two prototypes were produced, with production stopped while the second was being completed because of limited funds and high development and manufacturing costs. Neither account establishes a settled count.
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What the accounts have in common is that the hoped-for small series did not become ongoing production. The car remains an unusual coachbuilt project rather than a Land Rover model with regular production records.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why is the Longnose remembered?
The Longnose pushed the Land Rover’s utilitarian identity into deliberately extravagant territory: a long, hand-formed nose and rear-set two-seat cockpit wrapped around an off-road-oriented concept. Its extraordinary engine ideas amplified the vision, but the reported 5.0-liter Rover V8 is the concrete specification associated with the listed example.
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Classic Driver’s 2008 feature also reproduces a promotional line attributed jointly to Bell and Kalvelage: “Edward would have driven Wallis Simpson in a Bell Aurens Longnose to private outings.” It captures the project’s playful, aristocratic roadster fantasy; it is not evidence of a historical journey.
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