Land Rover Changes Hands

Perhaps one of the best known off road vehicles,to corrosion has contributed to the popularity and
Land Rover has been making four-wheel drivelongevity of the vehicle. Over 75% of the vehicles
vehicles for over half a century. The name at oneever produced are still in production. Land Rover
time referred to a single specific vehicle but nowdrivers often refer to other makes of 4x4's as
represents a series of models in the Rover fold. Thedisposables. Because most of the material was
all terrain vehicle was introduced on April 30, 1948 atobtained from a post war surplus of aircraft
the Amsterdam Motor Show.aluminum, the colors of the early models were limited
The vehicle was designed by Maurice Wilks on thein color to various shades of green.
island of Anglesey in Wales. Wilks was inspired by anThe engines were extremely simple in design and
American World War II Jeep that he used at hiswere created to be serviced in the field. Many
home in Wales so much that he set out to create aadvertisements for the vehicle often referred to
similar off road vehicle for the British Car company,vehicles being driven many miles on nothing but
Rover. In fact, the original prototype for the firstbanana oil. The British Army still requires that the
Land Rover was built on a Jeep Chassis.automobiles produced for them retain the simpler
One of the best features of the about this vehicle2.5-liter 4 cylinder 300 TDi instead of the electronically
occurred as result of post war steel shortages. Thecontrolled 2.5 Liter 5 cylinder TD5 just for the fact
shortage required another material be substituted.that the 300 TDi can be easily serviced in the field.
That material was an alloy of aluminum andFord along with Jaguar has subsequently acquired the
magnesium called Birmabright. Land Rover bodiescompany. Some of the models of Jaguar and the
constructed of this light weight material were rustROver even share components.
proof and nearly indestructible. The metal's resistance