The end of a long-distance runner - original Land Rover production comes to an end in December 2015

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Created on January 9, 2015

Text:

Bruno von Rotz / PR

Photos:

Jaguar Land Rover

Land Rover Series I (1948) - pre-production specimen on test

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Land Rover Series I (1957) - on tour with the Queen and her entourage

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Land Rover (1948) - the first Land Rover

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Land Rover Series I (1948) - pre-production

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Land Rover Series I (1948) - AA Patrol in the snow

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Land Rover (1950) - Winston Churchill and his Land Rover

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Land Rover (1955) - the first "Overland Expedition"

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Land Rover 86 Series I (1954) - 86-inch version

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Land Rover Series II (1968) - As a 12- and 7-seater version

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Land Rover Series II (1969) - as a 109-inch ambulance

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Land Rover Series III (1974) - in wild terrain

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Land Rover Series III (1974) - 109 inch version

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Land Rover 100 4 Door (1976) - with more space inside

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Land Rover 100 4 Door (1976) - with four doors

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Land Rover Series III (1976) - 109-inch version for the police

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Land Rover Defender (1980) - as a short soft-top version

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Land Rover Station Wagon (1981) - Series III

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Land Rover Series III (1983) - 109-inch version for the police

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Land Rover Defender (1985) - as a police car

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Land Rover Series III (1985) - Station wagon

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Land Rover Series III (1988) - 109-inch version of the AA Patrol

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Land Rover Defender (2006) - on the road to modern times

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Land Rover (1976) - different generations together

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On the beach of Red Wharf Bay on the Welsh island of Anglesey, Maurice Wilks designed the striking shape of an off-road vehicle in 1947. For over 65 years, he has been celebrated with a one-kilometer drawing in the sand of the historic bay.

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Land Rover (1948) - der erste Land Rover

Land Rover (1948) - Vorproduktions-Exemplar

Land Rover Series I (1948) - Vorproduktion

Land Rover Series I (1948) - AA Patrol im Schnee

The success story of one of the longest-produced vehicles in automotive history began 67 years ago - the first Land Rover was built in 1948.

Land Rover Series I (1948) - pre-production

The final production phase of the current Defender model is now underway at the English plant. Land Rover is celebrating the final year of production with some special models that capture the vehicle's global cult status. Nick Rogers, Director of Land Rover Model Ranges, on the importance of recreating a globally renowned iconic vehicle: "Whatever we do around the Defender is driven by passion and enthusiasm. That will never change. With a history that has grown over 68 years, this Land Rover has evolved over many decades to epitomize this inherent performance - cult status included. It is a great honor for me to now be one of the enthusiasts who can develop the worthy successor to the legendary Defender."

Land Rover is accompanying the announcement with the largest sand drawing ever created in the UK. With six Land Rovers of different generations, a gigantic sand sketch with a length of one kilometer was created.

On the beach of Red Wharf Bay on the Welsh island of Anglesey, Maurice Wilks designed the striking shape of an off-road vehicle in 1947. For over 65 years, he has been celebrated with a one-kilometer drawing in the sand of the historic bay.

The picture at Red Warf Bay in Anglesey recalls the historic moment in 1947 when Maurice Wilks drew the shape of the original Land Rover in the sand. The then Technical Director of Rover used this tool to explain his idea of a multifunctional vehicle to the Director of Rover - his brother Spencer.

A long story

Land Rover Series I (1948) - pre-production specimen on test

The history began with the Land Rover Series I, II and III, followed by the Land Rover 90 in the 1980s, the Defender 90 Hard Top and today's Defender 110 Station Wagon.

Land Rover Series III (1974) - 109 inch version

The quest for a vehicle that could handle any terrain and any terrain defined our path from the very beginning and laid the foundation for Land Rover's worldwide reputation. Over the past 67 years, the Land Rover range has grown into a respectable series of models that are sold in large numbers today. The Defender's roots go back to the very first models produced on the Solihull production line in Lode Lane, Birmingham.

Year	Event/Comment
1947	Approval of the Land Rover project
1948	Launch of Land Rover on April 30, 1948 at the Amsterdam Motor Show
1948	Introduction of the first Station Wagon model
1949	The British Army orders its first Land Rover
1950	The 4x4 system with freewheel hub is replaced by selectable four-wheel drive
1953	Introduction of the long wheelbase version
1957	Introduction of the diesel engine
1958	Unveiling of the revised Land Rover (Series II)
1959	Production of the 250,000th vehicle
1961	Series IIA with 2.25 liter diesel engine
1966	Production of the 500,000th vehicle
1969	Headlights are newly integrated into the front fenders
1970	Best sales year with 56,663 vehicles delivered
1971	Introduction of the Land Rover Series III; production of the 750,000th vehicle
1976	Production of the 1 millionth vehicle 1979 March: Introduction of the V8 engine as an option
1983	Land Rover expands the range and introduces the 110 (One Ten).
1984	Introduction of the Land Rover Ninety
1990	Re-launch of Land Rover with the new 2.5 l turbo diesel and the new model designations Defender 90, 110 and 130
1992	Foundation of Land Rover North America with a limited series of 500 vehicles of the Defender 110 with 3.9 l V8 engine
1993	After the successful market launch of the Defender 110, Land Rover North America follows up with the Defender 90 with soft top.
2007	One of the major developments of the Defender is the introduction of the 6-speed manual gearbox.
2012	The new 2.2 l diesel replaces the previous 2.4 l engine.
2013	Land Rover celebrates its 65th anniversary with the Special Edition LXV.
2015	Planned end of production in England

Land Rover (1950) - Winston Churchill and his Land Rover

Not quite the end?

Land Rover is currently examining the possibility of continuing to build the current Defender in an overseas plant after the end of production in England. This production would be limited to smaller series for selected vehicle fleets and special vehicles, with sales outside Europe.