The project to build a Rover for the Land, i.e. a Land Rover was formed in early 1947, and early prototypes were running during the summer of the same year. Although similar to the Jeep, it was designed to be more useful to the farmer. The severe shortage of steel, meant the body panels had to be made of aluminium - a distinctive feature that would be repeated in many later Land Rover products.
Early prototypes used the 1.4l Rover 10 engine, but this quickly demonstrated a lack of power; and a new high torque 1.6 litre engine was fitted. In the first full year of sales, 8000 Land Rovers were sold compared to a target of 5000. By 1951, Land Rovers were out-selling Rover road cars by a factor of two to one.
Although a very popular and useful vehicle, the early Land Rovers were criticised for having a small load space. This was addressed in 1954, when the 80" Land Rover was replaced with an 86" wheelbase version. A "long wheelbase" 107" Land Rover was also introduced.
The Land Rover had a very successful first ten years, but by the late 1950s it was clear that changes were necessary. Land Rover was re-launched as the Series II in 1958.
Range Rover Sport
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