Land Rover History
Seven decades of go-anywhere, do-anything heritage — and the people who lived it.
The Camel Trophy
The Camel Trophy was the ultimate proving ground — a gruelling international expedition across the Amazon, Borneo, Siberia, Papua New Guinea, and beyond. Land Rovers were the only vehicle trusted to compete, and they never failed to deliver.
Camel Trophy — Mundo Maya, 1995
Camel Trophy — The Land Rover Years
Top Gear — Richard Hammond & the Land Rover
The Land Rover story begins in post-war Britain and spans more than 70 years of continuous production. Few vehicles have been as universally trusted across every terrain and every continent.
Series I (1948–1958)
Maurice Wilks sketched the original Land Rover on a Barmouth beach in 1947. Designed to be a farm workhorse using surplus Jeep parts and aluminium body panels (steel was rationed), the Series I debuted at the Amsterdam Motor Show on 30 April 1948. It found immediate favour with farmers, armies, and explorers worldwide.
Series II (1958–1971)
The Series II brought a more refined body, a curved roofline, and Land Rover's own 2.25L four-cylinder engine. The 109" wheelbase station wagon became iconic for expedition use and civilian utility. The Series IIA (1961) refined the design further with a revised front end and new engine options.
Series III (1971–1985)
The Series III is the most produced of the original range — over 440,000 built. Key updates included a full synchromesh gearbox, improved interior, and a revised plastic grille. Many consider the Series III the sweet spot of classic Land Rover ownership: accessible, parts-supported, and endlessly customisable.
Defender 90/110/130 (1983–2016)
The One Ten (1983) and Ninety (1984) replaced the Series range with coil-spring suspension, vastly improved ride quality, and a unified body shell. Retroactively named "Defender" in 1990, production continued with minimal change until December 2015 — a remarkable 33-year run that cemented its status as a utilitarian legend.
New Defender (2020–Present)
Launched in 2019 (2020 model year), the new Defender bears the name but uses a fully modern monocoque platform. While it shares the spirit of adventure, it's a very different machine from its forebears — laden with technology, air suspension, and driver assistance systems. Classic Land Rover enthusiasts remain committed to the original body-on-frame lineage.
Famous Land Rover Enthusiasts
From royalty to adventurers, screen icons to heads of state — Land Rover has always attracted those who refuse to be ordinary.
King Charles III
A lifelong Land Rover devotee, King Charles has owned and driven Defenders and Series models across the Balmoral and Sandringham estates for decades.
Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II famously drove herself around Balmoral in a Series Land Rover — sometimes surprising visiting dignitaries who were not expecting the monarch behind the wheel.
Bear Grylls
The adventure presenter and former SAS soldier has relied on Land Rovers across some of the world's most extreme terrain.
Winston Churchill
Churchill was an early Land Rover adopter and owned several during his post-war years at Chartwell. He reportedly appreciated the vehicle's straightforward, no-nonsense character.
Steve McQueen
The King of Cool owned and drove Land Rovers both on screen and off. His personal vehicles included a Series IIA and a Defender.
Richard Hammond
The Top Gear and Grand Tour presenter is a vocal Land Rover enthusiast who has featured the marque across multiple series and specials.