Land Rover
In 1948 the first Land Rover was built in the United Kingdom by Maurice Wilks, chief designer at the British car company Rover. It is rumored that the inspiration was an American World War II Jeep that he used one summer at his holiday home in Wales. The first Land Rover was built on a Jeep chassis.
The bodies of the Land Rovers were constructed of a lightweight rustproof proprietary alloy of aluminium and magnesium called Birmabright. Because of the post war steel shortage, this material was used. One of the factors that allowed these vehicles to build a reputation for longevity in tough conditions was the resistance to corrosion.
Since its purchase by Ford, Land Rover has been closely associated with the Jaguar brand. In many countries, they share a common sales and distribution network (including shared dealerships), and some models now share components and production facilities. The Land Rover has been reinvented. Unlike the older models, which were boxed shaped with long lines, the newer Land Rovers feature sleek curves with the same reliability consumers have grown to appreciate. |