Land Rover Series Information
Land Rover Series information, history and specifcations
Land Rover Series 1
The Land Rover, now known as the Land Rover Series 1, was designed by the Wilks brothers who ran the Rover Car Company. It was conceived, designed, and built within a year, with the first Land Rover going into production in 1948. The new consumer 4x4 was simple and utilitarian; a piece of post-war British craftsmanship. Early examples of the Series 1 Land Rover even used the light green surplus air-craft cockpit paint from the war.
The Land Rover Series 1’s most distinguishing feature was the front light positioning as they were behind the grille. The Series 1 had a steel box-section chassis and aluminium bodywork as the Government was rationing steel at the time, but this turned into an asset as it didn’t rust in the harsh conditions it was exposed to. The Series 1 sported an 80-inch wheelbase with 4-wheel drive and a 1.6-litre petrol engine producing around 50 bhp and was increased to 2-litre in 1950. With its sturdy off-roading capabilities, the Land Rover Series 1 became the farmers best-friend and the vehicle of choice for the military around the world.
Land Rover Series 2
Following the success of the original Land Rover, in April 1958 the Land Rover Series 2 was launched. The design team under David Bache, styled the Land Rover for the first time, completing the project in just 6 weeks. A vast catalogue of modifications had been made for more comfort and fewer sharp edges to meet Barbara Wilks (Morris Wilks wife’s) requirements.
The new Land Rover Series 2 featured rounded shoulders which later became one of Land Rovers design hallmarks. Rounded quarter lights (indicators were still an optional extra), external door handles and door locks and a larger rear window to improve visibility. Modesty sill panels were also added to the Land Rover Series 2 to hide the chassis, creating a more finished and styled look. The Land Rover Series 2 came in 88-inch and 109-inch wheelbases, commonly known as the short wheelbase (SWB) and the long-wheelbase (LWB). Numerous mechanical improvements had been made, namely the new 2.25-litre petrol engine, although the 88-inch short-wheelbase model had to wait
Land Rover Series 2A
In 1961, the Land Rover Series 2 gave way to the Land Rover Series 2A. There were some minor cosmetic changes along with the introduction of different body configurations which included the 88-inch short-wheelbase soft-top and the 109” five-door station wagon. With a 2.25-litre diesel engine added to the line-up and the 2.6-litre petrol engine added to the export Series 2A models. In 1968, the export market saw the repositioning of the headlamps to the wing and was introduced to the British market to comply with the new lighting regulations in 1969, along with the sill panels redesign to be shallower on all the models in the same year.
Land Rover Series 3
In 1971, the Land Rover Series 3 emerged on to the market. Although not radically different to its Series 2A predecessor, the Series 3 featured a new moulded plastic grille and a modified interior, moving the instrument cluster from the centre of the dash, to directly in front of the driver that was fitted to a new moulded plastic dashboard.
There was also the option to upgrade the Series 3 interior trims for more comfort and optional fresh-air heaters. Today the Land Rover Series 3 is the most popular of the Land Rover Series models.
Land Rover Series 3 Stage One V8
In 1979, the Land Rover Series 3 V8 Stage One was introduced using components such as the LT95 gearbox and the 3.5-litre Rover V8 petrol engine, from both the Range Rover and the 101 Forward Control. Stage ‘One’ denotes the first stage of the British Government investing in the company to make improvements to the Land Rover and Range Rover product range. However, the Land Rover Series 3 Stage One V8 was mostly exported as there was not the desire for a larger engine in the UK at that time.
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