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Land Rover

Land Rover came to the fore after World War II. Two British brothers, Spencer and Maurice Wilks, were impressed by the rugged and versatile nature of the U.S. Army's Jeep which graced the battlefield and impressed even the Germans. They worked with the British automaker Rover to create the first Land Rover in 1948. Called the Series I, this truck was equipped with permanent four-wheel drive, a canvas roof and optional doors. These early Land Rovers were crude but extremely well suited for operations in the field and some were later adapted for use as a workhorse on farms etc…

The 1950s saw Land Rovers moving toward increased power and refinement. The first diesel-powered Rover was also produced during these years. The Series IIA came next, in a production run that lasted from 1961-'71. As the '60s drew to a close, Rover was acquired by Leyland Motors Ltd.

Land Rover's storied Range Rover made its debut in 1970. Equipped with a V8 engine and a body made mostly of aluminum, the stylish vehicle was more consumer-oriented than its predecessors and has rarely ever seen the wrong side of a hedge. In the mid-'70s, British Leyland was nationalized; by the mid-'80s, the company — renamed the Rover Group — had been acquired by British Aerospace.

The automaker officially entered the U.S. automotive market in 1987 when the Range Rover made its debut on American shores. It was followed in 1989 by the Discovery, which was initially offered only in two-door form. The Discovery was the first all-new Land Rover in 19 years.

In the 1990s, the sudden popularity of the burgeoning SUV segment placed the brand in an enviable position. In response, Land Rover's vehicles, while still retaining their go-anywhere attitude, became more luxurious, particularly after BMW bought the company in 1995. Given their skills at making luxury cars, landrovers began to drift more towards interior leather rather than exterior mounted tools.

In the past, Land Rover has not had a particularly good reputation for reliability, but it has shown improvements in this regard in recent years. Today, the company is known for luxury SUVs with the latest amenities as well as superb off-road capability and is used by militaries and civilians throughout the world.