Today we are going to look at the history of Land Rover. You may not be too familiar with it, or you may own one and love everything about your Land Rover. Many do, and we hope to give you a little glimpse into why. We will cover the beginning of their automobile, as well as some important points in their history.
Land Rover: The Start
The United Kingdom was in the home to original design of the Land Rover. That occurred in 1947 on the island of Anglesey in Wales. It was inspired by a Jeep that America used in World War II, and came to life at the hands of Maurice Wilks. Wilks used one of those Jeeps at his home in Wales, and really enjoyed it. Because of a post war steel shortage, the original Rover prototype was built with aluminum and magnesium. The lack of corrosion in these vehicles is something that made it so popular. These models were painted in various types of light green. This was another aspect of the war. There was a surplus in military supply paint.
More recently however, the Land Rover has fallen victim to Japanese automobiles. Because of less expensive Japanese alternatives, they have seen their sales decline. Especially around the farm lands in Britain, where they got their start and have remained the mot popular. But improvements, such as better engines, and the five-cylinder TD5 have helped this vehicle make a strong comeback. They are once again rising back to its popular status.
Main Points in Land Rover History
- 1970: Introduction of the Range Rover
- 1976: Number of Land Rovers made reaches one million
- 1987: The Rover is introduced to the United States
- 1994: BMW takes over the Rover Group
- 2000: BMW sells Land Rover to Ford
- 2005: Adopts the Jaguar AJ-V8 engine in the Range Rover
- 2007: 4 millionth Land Rover comes off the production line
- 2007: Ford announces its intention to sell Land Rover
They have come a long way from their beginnings in 1947. Many changes have overtaken the Land Rover, and that has really benefited them. They have gone from being a farming vehicle, to a vehicle that a lot of people want to drive. Especially in the United States. It took 30 years to produce 1 million Rovers, but the last 30 years has produced 3 million more. Look for the number to keep increasing as long as Rover maintains its quality. They may have strong competition from other models, but the Rover will always find its way out of jams. They have done so for 6 decades, and really have gained a lot of respect from the automobile industry.
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