Land Rover

An introduction to the Land Rover

The development of Land Rovers started in the late 1940s. The Rover technical designer Maurice Wilks developed the idea of a general-purpose vehicle. This vehicle was to be used in agriculture as well as being an all-wheel drive vehicle. 

It took 18 months for the first Land Rover to reach the production stage. Engine and transmissions were originated from the Rover P3. 

From the start the Land Rover was not limited to agriculture. Its all round ability allowed it to be used in many other areas. You would see it on airfields, police and rescue missions, on large-scale building sites and with the military. 

In October 1948 the Land Rover was available as a closed station wagon in a light metal construction. The production of this first station wagon was, however, dropped in the year 1950 because of cost. But four years later in 1954, the production of an easily modified station wagon was started. 

In the first year of production Rover only produced 48 Land Rovers as materials were in short supply.