09 May 08
This month Land Rover celebrates an important milestone: in 1948 the first Series I was unveiled at a Dutch Motor Show. We look back at Land Rover's 60-year history.
Rover chief engineer Maurice Wilks was inspired by his army-surplus Willys-Overland Jeep to create a workhorse vehicle for military and agricultural use - and for export abroad to kick-start both Rover's fortunes and the national economy after World War II.
Prototypes were up and running by late 1947, and production of the Series I began at Solihull in summer 1948. It had permanent four-wheel-drive with low-ratio gearing and a locking freewheel mechanism, and a 50bhp, 1.6-litre engine from the Rover P3 saloon. It was fitted with lightweight body panels made from surplus aircraft-grade aluminium - steel was in short supply post-war - and came with army-surplus green paint. The price? The Land Rover started from just £450.
Initial versions were open-roofed two-doors with an 80" wheelbase, though a handful of leather-upholstered station wagons, with bodywork by Tickford, were made for wealthy customers. Selectable two/four-wheel drive arrived in 1950, followed by pick-up and more practical station wagon models with a 107" wheelbase; 2.0-litre petrol and diesel engines replaced the slow 1.6.
Supply to the British forces started in 1949, the Land Rover replacing the Austin Champ and later, the rust-prone Austin Gipsy /4car/ft/feature/top+ten/1739/2 ; deliveries to organisations such as the Red Cross soon followed. The 100,000th Land Rover was made in autumn 1954 and by 1958, production ran to around 200,000.
