HORSESHOE BAY (Falkland Islands): For Michael Goss, the "girls" are part of the family. When the 37-year-old talks about his Land Rovers, you could easily think he was talking about real people.
Each car has a name and Goss can tell you the technical specification and the history of every one. That includes which engine is fitted, what needs to be fixed, along with when and from whom he bought the vehicle.
Goss reels off the information with passion as he lovingly strokes the cars. A tour of his fleet can take a while. For in front of his house in the Falkland Islands, Goss has parked 78 Land Rovers.
The sheep farmer is not the only one on these far-flung islands in the South Atlantic with a passion for Land Rovers.
Take Nick Pitaluga, for example, who currently has around 25 Landies on his Salvador farm, seven of which are used regularly.
"We just somehow ended up with some rare models and early examples of some types, some were saved from being broken up or modified irreparably," he said. "Some were accidental finds that just seemed to want to come and live with us..!"
The four-wheel drive vehicles are a common sight on roads in the Falkland Islands, known for their stunning landscapes, beaches and magnificent bird life.
A total of 2,986 Land Rovers are registered, according to the local road traffic office. With a total population of just under 3,500 people, that works out at roughly one Land Rover for every adult.
Islanders are convinced that there is no higher ownership ratio rate in the world. Certainly not in their British homeland, where the cars have a strong following and enjoy Royal patronage. Queen Elizabeth II could be often be seen at the wheel.
Army Land Rovers also saw military action during the 1982 Falkland Islands War, which ended with the surrender of the Argentine forces at Stanley to British troops who had forcibly reoccupied the islands.
The vehicles have enormous advantages. They cope with the rough and uneven terrain in this self-administered British Overseas Territory, where asphalt roads are few an far between.
"They are real workhorses," says Simon Benjamin, the only car dealer for miles around. The 39-year-old drives a Rover himself, a Defender 90 which inspired the name of his Instagram account.
A Land Rover will take you anywhere you want to go in the Falkland Islands," said Benjamin and added: "I mean up until the late 1980s, there were hardly any roads here, it was mainly tracks and the Land Rover is the perfect vehicle for that".
The route to Goss' farm at Horseshoe Bay is a gravel trail leading through endless sheep pastures. When it snows, traction here becomes difficult, even with a Land Rover.
"They are loud, uncomfortable and not very modern," Benjamin admits. "But they have personality of their own." There is not much technology but he sees that is a good thing since they are easier to repair.
The vehicles are also robust. "You can just throw a couple of sheep in the back. Not many people would want to do that with an expensive off-roader."
Unfortunately, time is not on the side of the Land Rovers. "There used to be a lot more of them," the dealer said.
Until the 2000s, there were hardly any other brands on the islands. Then Japanese models came on the market. "They are not as good on the terrain as Land Rover, but came pretty close and they were much cheaper," said Benjamin.
His business used to import them from Brazil but he now sells any make of off-roader he can lay his hands on. "We've got better roads now so people tend to go for smaller vehicles."
The Land Rover has evolved too but diehards like Goss and Pitalga have no time for the new restyled Defender model, which its British makers say "represents 70 years of innovation and improvement"
Michael Goss gets downright emotional when the subject comes up. "The new car is too ugly, too fancy and too expensive." No, it seems Goss doesn't want to discuss this topic at all.
Fellow collector Pitaluga adds ruefully: "Land Rover sales have declined on the islands since the old Defender went out of production."
Dealer Benjamin confirms this. "I think we have imported just four new Defenders, that's it," he said. "There is interest in them but they are pricey compared to the old Defender."
Falkland folk tend to stick to the familiar models and despite their age, many of these will see service in the Falkland Islands for a long time to come. Well-maintained examples are a good investment too, said Pitaluga.
For Goss, no other car will do.
"The Land Rover badge is stamped on my heart," said the burly man before breaking into a smile. He owns a total of 98 examples, at least according to the last count.
So is he yearning for two more to make it 100?
No, he wants to add an order to bring the number to 110 - the designation of a well-known Land Rover model.
Asked if that will mark the end of his collecting passion, Goss bursts out laughing.
