Land Rover Series

Land Rover Series
Land Rover Series I
Overview
Manufacturer	Land Rover
Production	1948–1985
Assembly	Solihull, England
Body and chassis
Class	Off-road vehicle
Layout	FR layout/All-wheel drive
Chronology
Successor	Land Rover Ninety & One Ten

Series I
Series I 86 Hard Top. Showing double-skinned '"Safari Roof".
Overview
Production	1948–1958
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door Off-road vehicle 4-door Off-road vehicle 2-door pickup
Powertrain
Engine	1.6 L I4 (1948–1951) /2.0 L I4 (beginning 1950) 2.0 L diesel I4 (1957–58)
Transmission	4-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	1948–1953: 80.0 in (2,032 mm) 1954–1956: 86.0 in (2,184 mm) (SWB) 1948–1956: 107.0 in (2,718 mm) (LWB) 1957–1958: 88.0 in (2,235 mm) (SWB) 109.0 in (2,769 mm) (LWB)
Length	132.0 in (3,353 mm)/140.5 in (3,569 mm) (SWB) 173.5 in (4,407 mm) (LWB)
Width	61.0 in (1,549 mm)
Height	73.5 in (1,867 mm)
Chronology
Successor	Land Rover Series II

Series II
Overview
Production	1958–1961
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door Off-road vehicle 4-door Off-road vehicle 2-door pickup
Powertrain
Engine	2.0 L petrol I4 2.25 L petrol I4 2.0 L I4 diesel
Transmission	4-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	88.0 in (2,235 mm) (SWB) 109.0 in (2,769 mm) (LWB)
Length	142.4 in (3,617 mm) (SWB) 175.0 in (4,445 mm) (LWB)
Width	66.0 in (1,676 mm)
Height	77.5 in (1,968 mm) (SWB) 81.0 in (2,057 mm) (LWB)
Chronology
Predecessor	Land Rover Series I
Successor	Land Rover Series IIA

Series IIA
Overview
Production	1961–1971
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door Off-road vehicle 4-door Off-road vehicle 2-door pickup
Powertrain
Engine	2.25 L I4 Petrol 2.25 L I4 diesel 2.6 L IOE engine I6
Transmission	4-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	88.0 in (2,235 mm) (SWB) 109.0 in (2,769 mm) (LWB)
Length	142.4 in (3,617 mm) (SWB) 175.0 in (4,445 mm) (LWB)
Width	66.0 in (1,676 mm)
Height	77.5 in (1,968 mm) (SWB) 81.0 in (2,057 mm) (LWB)
Chronology
Predecessor	Land Rover Series II
Successor	Land Rover Series III

Series III
Overview
Production	1971–1985
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door Off-road vehicle 4-door Off-road vehicle 2-door pickup
Powertrain
Engine	2.25 L 73 hp (54 kW) I4 (Petrol) 2.25 L 62 hp (46 kW) I4 (Diesel) 2.6 L 86 hp (64 kW) I6 (Petrol) 3.5 L 91 hp (68 kW) V8 (Petrol)
Transmission	4-speed manual main transmission 2-speed manual transfer gearbox Selectable 4-wheel drive
Dimensions
Wheelbase	88.0 in (2,235 mm) (SWB) 109.0 in (2,769 mm) (LWB)
Length	142.4 in (3,617 mm) (SWB) 175.0 in (4,445 mm) (LWB)
Width	66.0 in (1,676 mm)
Height	77.5 in (1,968 mm) (SWB) 81.0 in (2,057 mm) (LWB)
Chronology
Predecessor	Land Rover Series IIA
Successor	Land Rover Ninety & One Ten

The Land Rover Series I, II, and III (commonly referred to as series Land Rovers, to distinguish them from later models) are off-road vehicles produced by the British manufacturer Land Rover that were inspired by the US-built Willys Jeep. In 1992, Land Rover claimed that 70% of all the vehicles they had built were still in use.

Series models feature leaf-sprung suspension with selectable two or four-wheel drive (4WD); though the Stage 1 V8 version of the Series III featured permanent 4WD. All three models could be started with a front hand crank and had the option of a rear power takeoff for accessories.

The Land Rover was conceived by the Rover Company in 1947 during the aftermath of World War II. Before the war Rover had produced luxury cars which were not in demand in the immediate post-war period and raw materials were strictly rationed to those companies building construction or industrial equipment, or products that could be widely exported to earn crucial foreign exchange for the country. Also, Rover's original factory in Coventry had been bombed during the war, forcing the company to move into a huge "shadow factory" built just before the war in Solihull near Birmingham, and used to construct Bristol Hercules aircraft engines. This factory was now empty but starting car production there from scratch would not be financially viable. Plans for a small, economical car known as the M Type were drawn up, and a few prototypes made, but would be too expensive to produce.

Maurice Wilks, Rover's chief designer came up with a plan to produce a light agricultural and utility vehicle, of a similar concept to the Willys Jeep used in the war, but with an emphasis on agricultural use. He was possibly inspired by the Standard Motor Company, who faced similar problems and were producing the highly successful Ferguson TE20 tractor in their shadow factory in Coventry. More likely, he used his own experience of using an army-surplus Jeep on his farm in Anglesey, North Wales. His design added a power take-off (PTO) feature since there was a gap in the market between jeeps and tractors (which offered the feature but were less flexible as transport). The original Land Rover concept (a cross between a light truck and a tractor) is similar to the Unimog, which was developed in Germany during this period.