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SIXTY YEARS AND FOUR MILLION VEHICLES:
MILESTONES OF LAND ROVER’S HISTORY
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| 1947 |
While using a Jeep on his farm in Anglesey, Rover’s Technical Director
Maurice Wilks and his brother Spencer Wilks, Rover’s Managing Director
see a gap in the vehicle market. They sketch the outline of a vehicle
in the sand of a Welsh beach and the ‘Land Rover’ is born. |
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| 1948 |
The first Land Rover is launched at Amsterdam motor show and is an instant success. |
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| 1949 |
The first Land Rovers are exported to the USA. |
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1950
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The Land Rover is fitted with new, larger and more powerful
headlamps that now shine through apertures in the grille. A hard top is
offered. |
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| 1951 |
The 1.6-litre engine is replaced by a larger-bore 2.0-litre unit |
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| 1953 |
To improve the load space area, the wheelbase is extended
to 86 inches while a new long wheel base Pick Up version and a Station
Wagon appear. |
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| 1956 |
The 10-seater 107-inch wheelbase Station Wagon is introduced. |
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| 1957 |
The new 2.0-litre diesel engine is introduced. Featuring overhead valves, it is the start of a whole new engine family. |
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| 1958 |
Ten years after the launch of the first Land Rover and at
the same event – the Amsterdam Motor Show - the Land Rover Series II
and debuts a new 2.25-litre petrol engine. |
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| 1959 |
After 11 years in production, the 250,000th Land Rover rolls off the line. |
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| 1962 |
The 12-seat Station Wagon is introduced. |
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| 1966 |
In April, Land Rover production reaches the half million mark. |
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| 1967 |
The six-cylinder 2.6-litre engine is made available as an option on 109 inch wheelbase models.
The Rover Company merges with truck manufacturer Leyland which had acquired the rival Coventry-based car maker Triumph.
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| 1968 |
Following a three-year development period, the 'Truck Utility
½ Ton' – better known as the 'Lightweight' enters service with the
British Army.
Two major British vehicle manufacturing groups
merge. Leyland, including Rover and Triumph join the British Motor
Corporation (BMC), incorporating Austin, Morris and Jaguar to unite
British vehicle manufacture in one company, British Leyland.
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| 1970 |
In June, Land Rover launches a major new model line – the Range
Rover. The Range Rover is awarded gold medal for its coach-work while
its safety features are recognised by the award of the Don safety
trophy. |
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| 1971 |
The Range Rover receives the RAC Dewar award for outstanding technical achievement.
The 750,000th Land Rover is produced and Land Rover Series III is launched.
Using two Range Rovers, the British Trans-Americas Expedition leaves Alaska
in December heading for Tierra del Fuego. One of the last great car
journeys of the world left to be done, the real challenge lies in the
jungles of the Darien Gap in Central America. |
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| 1972 |
The Land Rover 1-tonne Forward Control is announced.
Designed to a British Army specification, it is powered by a de-tuned,
militarised version of the 3.5-litre V8 petrol engine used in the Range
Rover. |
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| 1975 |
Following years of industrial disruption, British Leyland
is taken under state control to prevent its bankruptcy and the loss of
tens of thousands of jobs. |
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| 1976 |
The production of an 88-inch Station Wagon at Solihull marks the millionth Land Rover built. |
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| 1978 |
Land Rover Limited becomes a separate operating company. |
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| 1979 |
A new version of the Land Rover 109-inch powered by the V8 petrol engine is launched. |
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| 1981 |
The four-door version of the Range Rover is launched. |
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| 1982 |
Range Rover production reaches 100,000. The Land Rover ‘County’ Station
Wagon variant is launched and the High Capacity Pick Up is introduced
on the Land Rover 109.
The Land Rover One Ten is launched.
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| 1984 |
The Land Rover Ninety debuts, featuring new doors with wind-up windows.
Following a successful limited edition, the ‘Range Rover Vogue’ is introduced at the top of the model’s line-up.
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| 1985 |
The refinement of Range Rover’s automatic option is improved by the introduction of a ZF 4-speed gearbox.
Land Rover vehicles are now being sold in 120 countries with plans for even more expansion.
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| 1986 |
A diesel powered version of the Range Rover is launched with a 2.4-litre turbo-charged VM engine. |
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| 1987 |
The formation of Range Rover of North America heralds the launch of the vehicle in the US market. |
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| 1988 |
The 40th anniversary of the Land Rover is marked by total sales of over 1.6 million vehicles world-wide.
The Rover Group is sold to British Aerospace (BAe). |
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| 1989 |
The Frankfurt Motor Show in September sees the launch of the first new
Land Rover vehicle since the Range Rover in 1970 - the Discovery moves
Land Rover away from its traditional markets and into the burgeoning
leisure sector. |
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| 1990 |
The Land Rover range is offered with the 200 Tdi engine and, in support
of the new Land Rover brand strategy, the model is named 'Defender'.
A four door version of the Discovery is introduced.
North America becomes the largest export market for the Range Rover.
Underlining its credentials as the world’s leading manufacturer of
off-road vehicles, Land Rover opens the ‘Land Rover Experience’ at
Solihull. |
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| 1992 |
Land Rover of North America is founded with a limited edition of 500 Defender 110 vehicles powered by the 3.9 litre V8 engine.
The long wheel base Range Rover LSE showcases a number of ‘firsts’ for
an off-road vehicle including air suspension and electronic traction
control.
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| 1993 |
Land Rover of North America follows up the success of the launch of the Defender 110 with the Defender 90 soft top. |
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| 1994 |
An all-new Range Rover is launched.
The Rover Group, including Land Rover is acquired by the German car maker BMW.
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| 1995 |
Production of Land Rover vehicles at Solihull tops 100,000 units per annum.
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| 1997 |
The Frankfurt Motor Show in September sees the debut of a brand new Land Rover product, the Freelander. |
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| 1998 |
April 30th sees the 50th anniversary of Land Rover. Special commemorative limited editions of all four models are produced. |
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| 2000 |
The Rover Group is sold by BMW with Land Rover being acquired by the
Ford Motor Company, joining Aston Martin, Volvo, Lincoln and Jaguar in
the Premier Automotive Group. |
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| 2001 |
The three-millionth Land Rover comes off the Solihull production line - a Freelander built for the US market.
The new Range Rover is revealed. Its investment cost of £1 billion makes it the biggest project carried out by the British motor industry.
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| 2002 |
The Discovery receives a face lift in the shape of a new front end
featuring the Land Rover ‘family face’ introduced on the new Range
Rover.
Range Rover production notches up its 500,000th vehicle in May. |
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| 2003 |
The Freelander is facelifted.
Land Rover runs the first ‘Land Rover G4 Challenge’, an extreme adventure competition.
The Land Rover is named ‘The Greatest Car of All Time’ by viewers of the BBC’s ‘Top Gear’ television programme.
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| 2004 |
The Range Stormer concept vehicle, heralding a new Land Rover design direction is revealed at the Geneva Motor Show.
The Discovery 3 makes its public debut.
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| 2005 |
The Range Rover Sport is launched.
The 500,000th Freelander leaves the production line just eight years after its introduction.
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| 2006 |
The Land_e is revealed at the Geneva Motor Show. The diesel-electric
hybrid SUV incorporates the latest fuel saving technology and a unique
4 x 4 drive system.
The Freelander 2 is launched.
Land Rover announces its CO2 offset programme.
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| 2007 |
The icon of the Land Rover brand, the Defender receives a facelift.
The four-millionth Land Rover vehicle is produced. A Discovery 3, it is donated to the Born Free foundation.
Land Rover adds to its portfolio of wildlife protection projects by supporting the Borneo Orang-utan Survival Foundation.
Partnership with the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red
Crescent, committing to raise £1 million for the organisation from the
G4 Challenge event.
To celebrate its upcoming 60th Anniversary in 2008, Zara Phillips
unveils the Land Rover Defender SVX at the British Red Cross Ball.
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| 2008 |
Tata Motors becomes the new owners of Jaguar and Land Rover.
The latest Land Rover concept vehicle - the three-door LRX cross-coupé
- debuts at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in
Detroit.
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