Description
Designed by Maurice Wilks as a ‘stopgap’ vehicle following the second world war in an attempt to ease their reliance on pre-war designs, the Land Rover would go on to be a true cult classic, and an icon of motoring design.
Making use of the post-war aluminium surplus for the body shell and using steel box-sections for the chassis, the Land Rover was born out of a desire for a ‘go anywhere, do anything’ vehicle that would be rugged and dependable, yet cheap enough to put it in range of the working man.
Creature comforts were virtually unheard of, but the permanent four-wheel-drive setup meant that the Land Rover could tackle just about anything you threw at it, outperforming its competition with ease. The Land Rover (or Series 1 as it has become known) is so important, that almost all modern four-wheel-drive cars can trace their lineage back to either the Land Rover, or the US equivalent, the Jeep.
Right from the off it became the British Isles’ old faithful: backbone of the British Army, aid agencies and the landed gentry’s agricultural tour de force. It didn’t take long for the secret to get out, and pretty soon its rugged go-anywhere persona had conquered the world.
Numerous revisions were made along the way, with selectable four-wheel-drive being added in 1950, while the original 1. 6-litre engine was upgraded to a 2. 0-litre offering in 1952. The chassis was also lengthened several times between 1953 and 1956.
Series 1 Land Rovers are seriously collectable now, and most have been either patched up with whatever was to hand and kept running or fully restored to original condition… like this one. This car has been owned by our family since early 1990's.
During its ownership it has been in many Vintage Car Shows and won prizes & is much admired. Downsizing and retirement now sadly necessitate sale to a new home.
The Vehicle possesses all its original fittings and furniture, which is quite rare in a vehicle of this age.
