LAND ROVER LAND MARKS

    1948
    • Land Rover launched at Amsterdam Motor show.
    • The vehicle is equipped with permanent four wheel drive, canvas roof and optional doors.
    • Doors become standard within months .

    1949
    • First station wagon available

    1950
    • The metal hardtop is offered as an alternative to the canvas roof.
    • Free wheel feature replaced by selectable 2/4 wheel drive.

    1952
    • 1997 cc engine introduced

    1954
    • First Series I 86 and Series I 107 Land Rovers (the Series I 107 is the first long wheelbase).

    1956
    • Both long and short wheel bases gain two inches.

    1958
    • The Series II Land Rover, with more refined styling and 2.25 litre petrol engine is launched.

    1959
    • November - the 250,000th Land Rover produced.

    1962
    • The Series III 109" forward control version is introduced.

    1966
    • April - the 500,000th Land Rover completed.

    1968
    • The air portable 88" lightweight model is introduced.

    1969
    • Headlamps removed from the radiator grill to front fenders.

    1970
    • June - the first Range Rover is launched at Blue Hills Mine, Cornwall. It is available as a three door estate with a four speed manual gearbox only.

    1971
    • 750,000th Land Rover is completed.
    • October - series III 88" and 109" Land rovers are launched with synchromesh gear box, new radiator grill and new interior.

    1972
    • The 101 military forward control model is launched.
    • Range Rover is the first vehicle to cross the Darien Gap.

    1974
    • Range Rover completes West to East Sahara Desert expedition 7,500 miles in 100 days.

    1976
    • 1,000,000th Land Rover completed in June.

    1978
    • Land Rover Ltd is formed with a plan to double production by the 1980s.

    1979
    • March - launch of the 109" Land Rover V8.

    1981
    • January - Range Rover wins the Paris-Dakar Rally.

    1982
    • Camel Trophy - Papua New Guinea expedition starts.
    • Automatic transmission is introduced on Range Rover.
    • July - Range Rover 4-door version is launched.

    1983
    • March - Land Rover 110 is introduced with new coil spring suspension, five speed gearbox, one piece windscreen and power steering.

    1984
    • June - Land Rover 90 launched.
    • The 2.5 litre diesel engine introduced.

    1985
    • A V8 engine option for Land Rover 90.
    • Launch of the Ninety, including all 110 refinements; vehicles being sold in 120 countries.

    1986
    • October - a 2.5 litre diesel turbo charged engine is introduced offering 28 per cent more torque and 25 per cent increase in power over the naturally aspirated version.

    1987
    • March - the Range Rover is launched in North America.
    • The Range Rover Turbo D is used for Camel Trophy Madagascar.

    1988
    • October - the Range Rover chain driven transfer box and viscous control unit is introduced.
    • 40thAnniversary of the Land Rover. Over 1.6 million vehicles sold worldwide.

    1989
    • October - Range Rover is launched in the UK with 3.9 litre engine. Anti-lock brakes option introduced.
    • November - Land Rover Discovery launched at Frankfurt Motor Show with the new Turbo Charged, direct injection diesel engine. This is the first all-new vehicle since 1970.

    1990
    • Land Rover is renamed Defender. All diesel Defenders are given the new 2.5 litre direct injection Turbo charged diesel engine.
    • 20th Anniversary of Range Rover.

    1991
    • Four door Discovery introduced in Europe.

    1992
    • Land Rover Defender 110 with 3.9 litre engine is shown at North America International Automobile Show. A limited production run of 500 goes on sale in the USA on 1 August.
    • October - Range Rover country LWB introduced to glowing reviews and automotive awards, leading Land Rover North America to successive monthly sales records.
    • Range Rover LSE introduced with 4.2 V8 litre engine, electronic traction control and electronic air suspension - a world first for a 4 x 4 vehicle.
    • Range Rover Tdi launched with Land Rover's 200 Tdi Turbocharged direct injection engine.

    1993
    • 45th Anniversary of Land Rover.
    • October - Defender 90 soft top with V8 power is introduced.

    1994
    • New Range Rover launched.

    1995
    • March - Range Rover 4.0 SE launched in the USA.
    • September - Range Rover 4.6 HSE introduced to the USA.
    • Discovery, and two door hard top station wagon Defender 90 join US line up.
    • Land Rover production tops 100,0000 units for the first time.

    1997
    • Freelander launched in the United kingdom.

    1998
    • April - 50th Anniversary of Land Rover April - Freelander to be launched in New Zealand.


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