The Collectors: Rafe Churchill
The Hendricks Churchill principal purchased his first Land Rover in 2009, and then snapped up 12 more during the pandemic
Hendricks Churchill principal Rafe Churchill collects Land Rovers the same way he restores historic country houses—with a deep respect for patina, provenance, and the unpolished charm of things built to last. He purchased his first of the British off-road vehicles in 2009 out of nostalgia, then snapped up 12 vintage Land Rovers over six months during the pandemic.
Business model: Working with local shops, Churchill lovingly refurbishes the SUVs through Ellsworth Classics, a service he operates from a barn near his home in Sharon, Connecticut. “I won’t put in new engines or repaint them,” he notes. “I want them to have character.” Five years in, Churchill has sold around 18 models and kept 5 for personal use, including his daily ride, a rugged Range Rover Classic from New Mexico, whose scorched paint belies a kitted-out interior sporting a Bluetooth stereo and fresh carpet.
Family matters: Churchill’s enthusiasm for Land Rovers converted his family to devotees. “My son drives one, my daughter drives one, and my wife and Hendricks Churchill cofounder, Heide, drives a new one,” he says with a laugh. “The driveway fills up with these things!”
A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2025 Late Fall Issue under the headline “The Collectors.” Subscribe to the magazine.