Hammond shows us round his favourite Defender

When I wrote to Jimmy Savile at the age of seven to see if he could Fix It for me to have a go
in a long-wheelbase Land Rover, the miserable sod never bothered to reply. Every week, he sent other kids off to meet the Pope, climb Mount Everest, dance with Legs and Co. and fly spaceships.

For crying out loud, I even lived just down the road from the Land Rover factory. So it couldn't have been easier for Jimmy to Fix It for me. He could have Fixed that one in his lunch break. But no, nothing. Jim'll Fix It for me? Ha, well I'll F*** it for him, I decided - my language was, perhaps, a little strong for a seven-year-old, but the sentiment entirely forgivable, I'm sure.

Words: Richard Hammond
Pics: Lee Brimble

This feature first appeared in the May 2008 issue of Top Gear magazine