The 10 Most Important Land Rovers Of All Time

By: Jkelly


So mixed emotions, especially in the Solihull area of Birmingham, in the West Midlands, where in 1948 the marque sprang to life in a bid to galvanise the fortunes of the Rover Car company which faced difficult times in the aftermath of World War II. Inspired by an ex-army Jeep he used on his farm, Rover's head of design Maurice Wilks and his team set about building a prototype multi-purpose car that could do the job of a tractor - in any conditions, anywhere in the world.

Little did the team know, that although they started very much with the farmer in mind, they would spawn a marque that would eventually become the world's most famous 4x4 - beloved by everyone from trans-global explorers to members of the Royal Family; from wealthy Kensington mums and their 'Chelsea tractors' to super-wealthy celebrities. And they even managed to cling on to the hardcore farmers' market too!

Since the very first design appeared in 1948, the name 'Land Rover' name has become synonymous with four-wheel drive vehicles, even more amazing when one considers the brand itself has stuck rigidly to just four key models - Defender, Freelander, Discovery and Range Rover - and managed to satisfy those looking for rugged toughness and durability, as well as those seeking comfort and elegant style.

In more than half a century of development, scores of derivations have left Land Rover's assembly line. But here we salute the 10 Most Important Land Rovers Of All Time.

1. 88-inch Land Rover Series 1 (1958)
It might seem strange to acclaim a vehicle built 10 years after the company was launched as Land Rover's most important, but the 88-inch Series II really did define the company. It smoothed out some of the more angular lines of the S1, gave a better ride and improved performance, and its distinctive body design still influences the current Defender shape more than 50 years on. Launched with a 1997cc petrol engine, improved a few months later to 2286cc, it also came in a 2052cc diesel version. To many, this was the most attractive Land Rover ever produced, even though it lasted just three years before the SIIA came along.

2. Land Rover Ninety (1984)
Land Rover has always been a company that thrives on adversity. In the late 70s, its dominance as the UK's market-leading 4x4 brand came under attack from a wave of Japanese rivals so the company's designers went back to their roots to fight back - and the Ninety and One Ten were launched directly at farmers and the 'country' market. With a marketing campaign which crowed: "The best 4x4s on earth (and on tarmac)" there was no holding back.

While the Ninety was a bit underpowered (the 2286cc petrol engine delivered 74bhp at 4000 rpm), the market loved it, and it went on to become the most popular LR of its generation - still used and loved around the world in its thousands.

3. 200 Tdi Defender County Station Wagon (1990)
Yes. The Defender badge is really only 18 years old having been launched in September 1990. But it cuts such an iconic dash that it's become synonymous with most of the LR utility vehicles, whatever their age! The short wheelbase Defender is known as a '90' and among classic LR enthusiasts, and those looking for a great second-hand Defender with great 4x4 insurance potential, it is simply the LR to own. Manufactured over a four-year period, a 2495cc five-speed diesel engine delivered 107bhp. The vehicle has incredibly agility over rough terrain and remains a benchmark of durability and strength.

4. 80-inch Land Rover Series 1 (1948)
Where it all began. Officially launched at the '48 Amsterdam Motor Show, the S1 had actually been in production through 1947, with a number of 'prototypes' sent to farmers across the UK for testing. Tweaks ensued, until the car acclaimed as the very first official Land Rover - HUE166 - rolled off the Solihull production line, with permanent four-wheel drive and a 1595cc engine, churning out 50bhp at 4000rpm. That vehicle can still be seen at the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust's collection at Gaydon, Warwickshire. Brings a tear to the eye!

5. 200 Tdi Discovery (1989)
Launching the original Discovery was a bold move for Land Rover. There was a significant departure from the easy-to-recognise Defender 'box' shape, and new and distinctive design features included an upright stance, Alpine roof lights, low shoulder line and stepped roof. Adding advanced technologies like permanent 4x4 and the Hill Descent Control included as standard, the 'Disco' was launched to introduce an entire new generation to the world of 4x4 ownership. It proved to be as adept on road as off and was a big hit.

6. 107-inch Series 1 Land Rover (1954)
The inextricable link between exploration and Land Rover will never be broken and that DNA was first established in 1954 when Colonel A LeBlanc took a fleet of 'long wheelbase' 107-inch Series 1s on a 22,000 mile trek across Africa. The trip was the stuff of legend - the vehicles faced incredible punishment from roasting temperatures, sand storms, deep mud, loose rocky terrain, soft sand - and yet returned unscathed. The 107 had increased the payload of its forerunner (the 86-inch '80') to 1500lb, making it perfect for long haul, difficult work. If any LR proved the marques off-road ability, this was it.

7. Range Rover Classic (1970)
During the 1960s, ever forward-thinking Land Rover had turned an eye to the luxurious four wheel drive market and started the development of a vehicle which could combine saloon car levels of performance and comfort with 4x4 ability. A 'New Vehicle Projects division' visited America on a research trip, the fruits of which was the Range Rover Classic. With a 3528cc engine, 135bhp, permanent 4-wheel drive, locakable central diff and top quality off-road performance and decent comfort levels, LR hit the target yet again. If you find one in good condition for sale now - snap it up. They are a classic 4x4 in every sense.

8. V8 Range Rover Sport Supercharged (2005)
Socially, weird things happened at the start of the 21st Century. The National Lottery was creating multi-millionaires every week. Footballers started earning ?70,000 a week. TV reality shows made megabucks celebrities out of nobodies. And every young person with cash wanted a 4x4. So when LR's then owners BMW started looking to design a luxurious - and fast - Range Rover, it just had to lead somewhere. The Sport Supercharged roared onto the market in 2005 with a 4197cc V8 petrol engine churning out 385 bhp and young, rich hedonists just couldn't get enough of it. Genius!

9. Freelander 1 three-door hardback (1997)
After almost 50 years' production of rugged and robust 4x4s, Land Rover shocked the Frankfurt Motor Show with its entry into the booming 'softroad' market - the Freelander. Naturally, LR purists were not amused, but it gained an immediate - and huge - following, especially among families. For the first time, hundreds of thousands of people who'd never had an LR before, suddenly had an affinity with the brand. Although small in stature, the first Freelander had a tremendously strong bodyshell and actually went well off-road. The baby Land Rover was born.

10. 2.7 TDv6 Discovery 3 (1994)
In 1999, the Discovery was named 'Sports Utility of the Year' by Automobile magazine - heralding Land Rover?s success in the US. Five years later, the company set about redefining the luxury SUV category with the Discovery 3 - the first time LR's designers (now under Ford's stewardship) had been given a clean sheet of paper to create a world-beating 'Disco' from scratch. They didn't miss the opportunity, packing the D3 with features while reducing the traditional reliance on a heavy chassis or beam axles. Ford wanted a stark, modern design without compromising any of the attributes that had made LR revered around the world. They go it.

Award-winning outdoor leisure and sports writer John Kelly lives in Stamford, England. He is the web editor at www.sureterm.com, the UK's leading classic 4x4 insurance company.