The Land Rover Defender started it's life when released in 1948 under the better known name of 'Series' Land Rovers.
After World War II the Rover Motor Company, who at the time produced luxury vehicles saw the demand for their products dwindle during post war time. Raw materials were also strictly rationed, being provided to building companies and exporting these materials leaving the company without the items needed to produce their cars. There were a few plans drawn up at the time to produce small and economic cars but all were deemed too expensive to put into production.
Rover's chief designer, Maurice Wilkes, came up with a plan to produce a light agricultural vehicle that could be used for multiple purposes. The vehicle was to based on the Willy's Jeep which was used during the war. In 1947, the first prototype Land Rover was built utilising a centralised steering wheel. The Engine and Gearbox were taken from the Rover P3, the chassis was borrowed from the Jeep. The famous body was constructed by hand using surplus Aircraft grade Aluminium. Paint was also rationed therefore, many early cars were painted green due to a surplus of that colour paint being left over from the war.
Having tested the first Land Rover, The Rover Motor Company had built a versatile and very capable machine. A couple of tweaks later and the vehicle filled the market between a car and tractor and was even used for ploughing and other farming jobs.
In 1948 the Land Rover Series I made it's debut at the Amsterdam Motor Show. Production was planned cease after 2-3 years as it was a simple offering for the Rover Motor Company to gain some cash flow to start producing it's range of Luxury cars once again. However, when production did once again start on their cars, sales figures for the Land Rover were outselling any other car the company produced. Over 60 years later, the Land Rover is still in production and other than a few luxuries, the brand has remained subtly changed.
Land Rover Series/Defender Time Line
1946 - World War II ends. The Rover Motor Company try to start production on a new range of small and economic cars.
1947 - The first prototype Land Rover is produced and testing is a success.
1948 - Land Rover Series I is launched at the Amsterdam Motor Show. Production lasts for a decade.
1954 - Land Rover LWB introduced as well as a pick up version.
1958 - Land Rover Series II is launched as a replacement for the Series I.
1961 - Land Rover Series IIa is the successor to the Series II.
1971 - Land Rover Series III succeeds the Series IIa.
1983 - Land Rover is now known as 90 or 110. This is due to the different wheelbases.
1985 - Land Rover extended wheel base 130 inch was introduced. Known as Land Rover 130.
1990 - The first Land Rover known as the Defender is produced again in 90 and 110 guises.
