The Milestones

April 1947

The Land-Rover project began. Jeep design studied closely at first. Original prototype used Jeep chassis and other components. First prototype complete in June 1947.

September 1947 - January 1948

First twenty-five "pilot" Land-Rovers built, for test, assessment and proving purposes.

April 1948

Vehicle first shown publicly on April 30th at the Amsterdam Motor Show, and technical analysis appeared in British Motoring Press. Only one version announced at this stage - 2.03 metre (80 inch) wheelbase, pick-up body and 1,595cc (97.3 cu. in.) Rover "P3" type 4 cylinder engine. Permanent 4WD and freewheel in front drive line. Provisional British price £450, with very sparse equipment. Spare tyre, crank handle, canopy and doors were options!!!

July 1948

'Pilot run' production ended at total of forty-eight machines. True volume production began same month. £450 with better fittings.

October 1948

First body variant revealed; light-alloy paneled station wagon, which qualified (in Britain) as a private car and attracted purchase tax. Total price £959. Built until early 1951.

1950

Metal "van" top offered for the first time as an alternative to the canvas hood. Freewheel feature discontinued. Transmission now had selectable four-wheel-drive or rear-wheel drive with cabin control.

1952

From the beginning of the year the engine was changed. The much-modified 1,997cc i.o.e.v. unit replaced the original 1,595cc unit with no overlap period.

1954

Wheelbase of original Land-Rover increased from 80 in to 86 in (and a total increase in overall length of 9 in). At the same time a long-wheelbase (107in) version, with extra 41 in length of loading platform compared with original 80in machine.

October 1956

Each basic version given new chassis with extra 2in in wheelbase - to 88in and 109in respectively. Extra space in engine bay to accommodate new diesel and petrol engines, not yet ready for announcement. No increase in carrying capacity. The 88in and 109in dimensions have been standard ever since. To balance supply situation of components, 107in station wagon was to continue until September 1958.

June 1957

Announcement of diesel engine option for first time. An all new engine of 2,052cc, with overhead valves, entirely different from existing Land-Rover petrol unit. Available at once in British-market Machines, on export after a few months, in 88in or 109in versions.

April 1958

Series ll Land-Rover replaced all existing Series 1 models (except-for a few months-for the 107in station wagon). Chassis virtually unchanged, but wheel tracks increased, Available front wheel lock increased, and turning circles reduced (by 5ft on 109 models). New styling features, including "barrel" body sides, and covering panels at side. Original 1,997cc engine announced as discontinued, but actually persisted in some versions until the Autumn of 1958. New overhead valve engine of 2,286cc announced, during many common parts and much common engineering and production tooling with the diesel engine.

November 1959

250,000th Land-Rover completed - just over 11 years after the machine went into production.

September 1961

Series llA Land-Rovers replace Series ll Land-Rover, which used 75% of existing 109in chassis components. Frame based on existing 109in frame with a complete new overframe, raised and much altered cab, and a 30cwt (1,525kg) payload, or 25cwt (1,270kg) when driving across rough country. The 2.286cc petrol engine was standardised on this model, for power/weight reasons, with no diesel option.

April 1966

500,000th Land-Rover completed at Solihull - 6½ years after the 250,000th.

September 1966

Wheelbase of forward-control machine changed to 110in by minor modification to suspensions. Choice of three engines in this model - 2,286cc petrol, 2,286cc diesel,and 2,625cc six-cylinder petrol engine. The "six" had not been offered on Land-Rovers of 1948-58, only the current P5 Rover saloon units. The 2,286cc petrol engine was not available on British-market examples. Wheeltracks were increased by 4in to improve stability and road handling.

April 1967

The 2,605cc, six-cylinder engine became available on 109in chassis normal-control Series llA Land-Rovers.

Summer 1967

A "luxury pack" of three deeply-padded front seats became optional on all normal-control Series llA Land-Rovers.

Spring 1968

To satisfy certain new legal requirements in export territories (British legislation followed at a later date) the Series llA Land-Rover's headlamps were moved from their grille-mounted position to the front wings. Apart from slight changes to the front grille this was the first obvious change in Land-Rover styling since 1948.

September 1968

Special heavy-duty '1 ton' version of 109in chassis made available, only with six-cylinder 2,625cc engine. New military version of the 88in Land-Rover was unveiled. Called the "half-ton" or ("Rover 1" by the British Armed Forces) which demoted its total payload, it had a standard chassis, but an entirely different lightweight body, which could be stripped out so that the machine could be transported in an aeroplane, or slung underneath a helicopter. This model has never been available to the general public as a new Land-Rover.

February 1969

Headlamps moved to wings on all models.

June 1970

Launch of entirely new Range-Rover, related to the Land-Rover, and under the care of the Land-Rover engineers, but mechanically very different. Features included a 100in wheelbase, permanent four-wheel drive, three differentials, light alloy 3,528cc vee-8 engine, and three-door estate car body with no options.

June 1971

Completion of 750,000th Land-Rover, 5 years after 500,000th example.

October 1971

Announcement of Series lll Land-Rovers, replacing the Series llA range of normal-control machines. Forward-control Land-Rovers continued as Series llA types. Series lll models mechanically similar to llA's but with new all-synchromesh gearbox (in place of unsyncronised first and second gears). New front grille and details, new full width facia style and added comfort, with instruments ahead of the driver instead of centrally mounted. The 88in and 109in wheelbases as before, with continued choice of 2,286cc petrol or diesel engines, and the six-cylinder 2,625cc petrol engine.

September 1972

Debut at Commercial Vehicle Show in London of new and specialised forward-control military Land-Rover - the 101in wheelbase machine. Production began in 1974-75 and was confined to vehicles for the British armed forces. It used the Range-Rover's V8 3,528cc engine and permanent four-wheel drive central transmission, in a new chassis. Simple forward-control cab and pick up body was provided, and there was a rear power take-off drive allowing the latest Rubery Owen powered trailers to be attached, providing a 6 x 6 combination. It was announced that production of the 'civilian' forward-control Land-Rovers would cease when the last export contract was complete in 1973.

August 1974

Announcement of optional over-drive (by Fairey) for Land-Rovers of all types, which attaches to the tranfer gearbox.

June 1976

Production of the one millionth Land-Rover - 5 years after the 750,000th machine - which immediately joined the Leyland Historic Vehicles Collection, in company with R.01, the original pilot-production Land-Rover of 1947-48

1976 - 1977

Plans announced for the doubling of Land-Rover and Range-Rover production, based at Solihull, but implementation delayed by British Leyland's Financial problems.

February 1978

Announcement of optional Fairey over-drive for the Range-Rover, which attaches to the transfer gearbox.

August/November 1978

Announcement and final approval of plan to double Land-Rover and Range-Rover production by early 1980's at an investment cost of at least £,280 million.

March 1979

Announcement of Land-Rover V8 engine. This was merely the first of several important developments planned under the expansion program.

1983

The end on an era. The Landrover body and chassis combination used since its inception will be replaced with updated types. Some of the new models will use similar panels and chassis-work, but Landrover must offer an more acceptable recreational vehicle AND a stable of tough workhorses. "Getting there" (wherever "there" is) has changed from just being possible to making it fun!