Owning a Land Rover is often a step beyond simply having a mode of transport, even more so than any other classic vehicle. It inevitably becomes a way of life thanks to the enthusiasm and the support from the numerous clubs and specialists. Whether you want to preserve a valuable Series I or use a later Series III for daily transport, this buying guide aims to cater for all budgets and (most) intentions.
Back in April 1948 at the Amsterdam Motor Show, a small utilitarian-style vehicle was unveiled to the public. Simply called the Land Rover, the £450 car was designed to be an all-round vehicle that could be used on the road for general transport, but was just as capable of driving through a river or traversing a 45-degree gradient. It had a steel box section chassis with light green aluminium bodywork, permanent four-wheel drive and leaf-sprung suspension.
Classic Land Rovers are identified by the length of their wheelbase, which is denoted in inches, and whether it’s a Series I, II or III. The shortest model is the 80in, which was the only option for the first five years of production (1948-1953). All models were powered by a 50bhp, 1595cc petrol engine until 1952, when a larger two-litre petrol was introduced. By 1953, longer 86in and 107in wheelbase models replaced the 80in, and these were further extended in 1956 to 88in and 109in, which were available until 1981. After that, a 110in model became the longest wheelbase.
Alongside the changes in wheelbase dimensions, there was also a change in model series. In 1958, ten years after the Land Rover had been unveiled, several revisions were made to announce the launch of the Series II at the Amsterdam Motor Show. Engine options were revised, with the two-litre petrol being replaced by a larger 2286cc four-cylinder unit. A two-litre diesel engine had been introduced in 1957, and this was enlarged to the same size as the petrol engine in 1961, when the Series IIA was launched. More engines were added to the Land Rover in 1967, when Rover’s 2625cc straight-six petrol engine was fitted. One of the most distinctive changes was
