Ibex Register
Foers Ibex Chassis No. 1 (4F001) – Mark I, 240 wheelbase
Current Owner: Holme Valley 4x4, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
Manufactured in 1988 and originally a pickup version, 4F001 is now a station wagon (i.e. with windows). Subsequent models are all slightly different, with variations in length of chassis and vehicle build/specification.
The wheelbase is 94” (240cm) long, the same length as a standard Land Rover Defender 90. As ‘standard’, it was fitted out to full ‘event specification’ (i.e. raised air intake or snorkel and rear air locker) and leather seats.
The vehicle has standard Land Rover suspension and a standard Land Rover 200Tdi engine. All internal trim is as found in a standard Land Rover. However, the chassis is specific to the Ibex; an extremely strong ‘space frame’ chassis, made of box section, hot dip galvanised. Full roll over protection is built in.
Bodywork on our Ibex chassis no. 1 is made of GRP panels (a form of plastic), not aluminium as used in the Land Rover Defender 90, enabling panels to be replaced quickly and easily if damaged ‘in action’.
A unique feature of this Ibex (the Mark I version) is that the doors open upwards, held on gas struts in a semi-gull wing style.
After this original Ibex was developed, aluminium body panels were used on subsequent models, but folded rather than pressed, making repairs simple and inexpensive. Mark II Ibex models have the conventional doors.
The higher chassis gives improved ground clearance. With a wheel ‘at each corner’, the vehicle has far better approach and departure angles. As well as the normal ‘diff’ (allowing the outside wheel to go faster than the inside one), it has a rear air locker fitted, enabling the driver to lock the back axle (ensuring the rear wheels turn at the same speed), giving improved traction.
The snorkel (raised air intake) is fitted specifically for wading in deep water, enabling the air intake to be higher up on the vehicle. It has a ‘breather kit’ fitted (appropriate where oil is present, e.g. both axles, gear box and transfer box).
Foers Ibex Chassis No. 57 (7F057) – Mark IV, 240 wheelbase
Current Owner: Holme Valley 4x4, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
Manufactured in 2001, in Forest Green, Holme Valley 4x4 purchased this model in August 2006, a TD5 soft-top version and perfect for the summer months. Previously, John Foers (‘Mr Ibex’) had used it as his own vehicle and demonstrator. It has the Foers Vector centre mounted winch system, and electric, leather front seats.
Holme Valley 4x4 plan to introduce an engine management chip to transform the already exceptional performance.
Acceleration is already quite brisk, and a cruising speed of 70mph is easily and comfortably achieved, with less road noise than the Mark I version. However, it is in off-road use that the vehicle excels. It is meant for traversing up and down steep hills, not blasting up and down motorways.
