Maurice Wilkes, technical director for Rover Cars in 1947, detected a strong demand for utilitarian ex-military 4x4s and felt sure that a British designed and built agricultural vehicle would have great potential.

 

The first Land Rover was conceived, built and designed within a year and launched in April 1948, at the Amsterdam Motor Show. Innovation and resourcefulness were instilled in the brand right from the beginning, as in post-war rationed Britain, aluminium replaced steel and paint left over from a fighter plane factory was used. With a Rover Cars engine, a lightweight chassis and permanent four wheel drive, this really was a unique little vehicle.

 

Ten years later, Land Rover brought out a new model that featured a long list of modifications. The changes made the Series II easier to drive without sacrificing durability. With a new 2.25 litre petrol engine, orders flooded in from over 70 countries and an international brand was well and truly established.

 

From the beginning, Land Rover was the choice of pioneers, explorers and anyone with a spirit of adventure. Numerous expeditions ran thanks to the gutsy Land Rover – including the first overland trip from London to Singapore.