“Mon Mam Cymru” – “Mon the Mother of Wales”, is how Anglesey is described in Welsh.
Its better known 20th century offspring however is the Land Rover.
When Rover Managing Director Spencer Wilks visited Chief Engineer brother Maurice at their estate there in 1947, he asked what he would do when the ex-Army Jeep he had wore out. “Try to find another one” he said, “there’s just nothing like it …"
Its better known 20th century offspring however is the Land Rover.
When Rover Managing Director Spencer Wilks visited Chief Engineer brother Maurice at their estate there in 1947, he asked what he would do when the ex-Army Jeep he had wore out. “Try to find another one” he said, “there’s just nothing like it …"
Work started immediately, prototypes were running on Anglesey within months and the first “production” vehicle was exhibited at the Amsterdam motor Show in April 1948. In fact, the first cars for customers did not start coming off the line until July 1948. Nonetheless, it was an amazingly short development programme.
At a recent press event at the Gaydon Heritage Centre I was able not only to drive some key models from the Land Rover collection but take them off-road.
A very early (pre-1950) model was first – headlamps behind the grille, no heater, no exterior door handles but permanent 4x4. A freewheel (Rover car feature at the time) prevented axle wind-up and the centre diff lock was engaged by a ring-pull in the floor with one (red) extra lever for low ratio. Later models opted for part-time 4x4 with two extra levers a yellow knob one for 4x4 and red retained for LR. No seat adjustment meant an impossibly cramped driving position (and I’m not tall!) but 80-inch wheelbase and light weight made it nimble and capable off-road.
The grey 1965 Series IIA was Spencer Wilks’ retirement gift. Having grown to 88” and 109”, these wheelbases were retained for the 1958 Series II. The Series IIA in 1961 kept the cleaner lines of 1958 and offered a better 2.25 litre Diesel – almost a ‘twin’ to the 2.25 litre petrol unit of this model. A much more driveable car and the 4 speed ‘box saw syncromesh (of a sort) extended to 2nd gear.
A very early (pre-1950) model was first – headlamps behind the grille, no heater, no exterior door handles but permanent 4x4. A freewheel (Rover car feature at the time) prevented axle wind-up and the centre diff lock was engaged by a ring-pull in the floor with one (red) extra lever for low ratio. Later models opted for part-time 4x4 with two extra levers a yellow knob one for 4x4 and red retained for LR. No seat adjustment meant an impossibly cramped driving position (and I’m not tall!) but 80-inch wheelbase and light weight made it nimble and capable off-road.
The grey 1965 Series IIA was Spencer Wilks’ retirement gift. Having grown to 88” and 109”, these wheelbases were retained for the 1958 Series II. The Series IIA in 1961 kept the cleaner lines of 1958 and offered a better 2.25 litre Diesel – almost a ‘twin’ to the 2.25 litre petrol unit of this model. A much more driveable car and the 4 speed ‘box saw syncromesh (of a sort) extended to 2nd gear.
Series III arrived ten years later. A new front-end look, syncromesh four-speed gearbox and new dashboard marked out the 1971 vehicle as a thoroughly up-graded product.
A raft of components were improved including (long-overdue) strengthened half-shafts. The millionth Land Rover was a 1976 Series III. Drum brakes still (but improved) and suspension remained by semi-elliptic springs.
The 90 and 110 Land Rovers of 1983/1984 were a complete revamp – five-speed gearboxes; disc brakes; permanent 4WD and coil springs for a better ride on-road and improved axle articulation off it. With last year’s revisions, the company exhibited a couple of concepts for a Defender replacement – the beginning of a “four-year journey” to create the next in a legendary line. It will have to be good.
By Huw Thomas
First published in Welsh Farmer, the newspaper of the Farmers' Union of Wales.
A raft of components were improved including (long-overdue) strengthened half-shafts. The millionth Land Rover was a 1976 Series III. Drum brakes still (but improved) and suspension remained by semi-elliptic springs.
The 90 and 110 Land Rovers of 1983/1984 were a complete revamp – five-speed gearboxes; disc brakes; permanent 4WD and coil springs for a better ride on-road and improved axle articulation off it. With last year’s revisions, the company exhibited a couple of concepts for a Defender replacement – the beginning of a “four-year journey” to create the next in a legendary line. It will have to be good.
By Huw Thomas
First published in Welsh Farmer, the newspaper of the Farmers' Union of Wales.
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