A BIT OF HISTORY
In 1947, a gentleman farmer was singing the praises of his army surplus Jeep as an all-purpose vehicle on his estate in Anglesey, when his brother asked him with what he would replace it when it was worn out. He replied that as there was no equivalent made in Britain, he would have to get another of the same from America. Both men being intensely patriotic, this went against the grain, but gave birth to an idea that was to become a legend.
For the farmer was Maurice Wilks, Chief Engineer of the Rover Company, of which his brother Spencer was the Managing Director. From that conversation, the Land-Rover was born.
It went into production in 1948, as a stop-gap measure during the period of post war austerity and steel shortages, to keep their company going until they could get back to the serious business of building luxury motor cars. This year, the Land-Rover completes 53 years of continuous production - some stop-gap!
During those years, the original concept has evolved into today's Defender and given birth to the Range Rover, Discovery and now the Freelander, and has also spawned an incredible number of variants for specific purposes, both civil and military.
"Gandalf" was one of the first year's production and is therefore one of the oldest Land-Rovers in existence. I bought him as a pile of bits in 1989 and had him rebuilt "from the ground up", since when he has given excellent service, both on and off the road. No pampered pet, he regularly earns his living carrying loads of all sorts.
Don't be fooled by any of the many Land-Rovers appearing in Second World War movies - they are historically incorrect. |
