WORN STORIES: DREW ROTHSCHILD | CLASSIC ROVERS
About the Series
Worn Stories is a series capturing people whose lives, passions, and identities are reflected in the things they wear and the machines they love. These stories are etched into metal, stitched into fabric, and lived through years of use — worn in, not worn out.
Peering Over the Wall
“I used to ride my bike down the street just to look over a neighbor’s wall. Behind it — a hidden world of vintage Range Rovers. Not the ones you saw in catalogs or American driveways, but something mechanical and mysterious. It felt like spotting UFOs in 1990s suburbia.”
For Drew Rothschild, the founder of Classic Rovers, it all started with that sense of wonder. He wasn’t drawn to flashy sports cars or shiny new tech — he was captivated by the rawness, the imperfections, the rugged presence of a Range Rover built before he was born.
Years later, that obsession didn’t fade. It grew — and eventually evolved into a full-fledged business.
From Hobby to Business
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Once Drew had the freedom — he bought one. Then two more. Each one worse than the last: overpaid for, rusted through, plagued with mechanical nightmares. “I swore them off,” he laughs. “But they always found a way back into my life.”
By day, Drew worked in biotech recruiting. But in the background, Craigslist tabs stayed open. Facebook Marketplace became a daily ritual. Every vacation somehow turned into a side mission to meet a stranger with an old truck.
At one point, his wife finally said, “Can you just buy one already?” He did — wiring money to a stranger in Spain for a truck he’d never seen. A year later, it arrived. That was the beginning of Classic Rovers.
The Watch That Never Comes Off
Drew's Yacht-Master — worn daily, through every scratch and rebuild.
It’s not just Rovers that tell Drew’s story. On his wrist, a scratched blue dial Rolex Yacht-Master has been with him for over a decade — a gift from his wife on his 30th birthday. “It was the nicest thing I owned.”
He never takes it off. Not in the shower. Not while wrenching on engines. “It’s been covered in oil, slammed into an engine block, washed off in the sink.”
Even after receiving a white gold Daytona years later, it’s the Yacht-Master that remains his daily wear. “It’s part of me.”
Watches & Wheels: A Shared Ethos
There’s a clear connection between vintage Range Rovers and mechanical watches. Both are utilitarian by design — tools that survive because of craftsmanship and intentionality.
“People who appreciate these things see beyond hype. They understand that scratches don’t ruin value — they create it.”
Classic Rovers, Looking Forward
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Today, Drew’s passion is split between two projects: importing rust-free TD5 Defenders, and building LS-swapped U.S. Defenders, combining classic design with reliable American muscle under the hood.
“I want someone to take this to dinner on Friday and haul lumber with it on Saturday,” he says.
Worn In, Not Worn Out
Drew’s story is still being written — through chipped paint, busted bolts, scratched bezels, and long road trips with his kids. “To me, the most beautiful things are the ones that show their use.”
“It’s never just about the car. Or the watch. It’s about the life that happens in between.”
Have a worn story of your own?
We’d love to hear it. If your journey is written in metal, leather, or time — feel free to reach out to be part of the Worn Stories series.