Footnotes

Inspired by the US Army's wartime 'Jeep', developed in haste and intended for short-term, small-scale production, the Land Rover would defy its creators' initial scepticism. Rover bosses the Wilks brothers saw the need for a tough, four-wheel-drive, utility vehicle to serve the needs of the agricultural community in the immediate post-war years, but the Land Rover's runaway success took the company by surprise. The necessity of using corrosion resistant aluminium panels at a time of severe steel shortage turned into a positive virtue in the Land Rover's sphere of operations, and the use of existing components - including the P3 saloon's engine - kept production costs down and cut development time.

Some ten years after the original's introduction it was felt that the time had come to update the Land Rover's somewhat primitive slab-sided styling. The result was the Series II, which featured the more rounded sides that would characterise the Land Rover to the end. Introduced in 1958, the Series II was available with either the 2,286cc petrol engine or the newly developed 2,052cc diesel first seen in 1956 on what became known retrospectively as the 'Series I'. By this time the original permanent four-wheel drive freewheel transmission had been superseded by the more conventional selectable two- or four-wheel drive arrangement, with a set of low ratios available if required with the latter option selected. For the Series IIA the diesel engine was enlarged to 2,286cc and a new 12-seater model introduced on the longer (109") wheelbase chassis.

Progressively developed since its launch in 1948, the ubiquitous Land Rover has been modified over the decades to serve countless specialist requirements, both civilian and military.

This Series IIA Land Rover was purchased new by the current vendor from Mann Egerton, Ipswich and has covered circa 33,000 miles from new. It benefits from Fairey accessories, being fitted with freewheel front hubs and an overdrive. Recently repaired and MoT'd (see bill for £500 on file), the Landie is ready to use and comes with a substantial file of history, including correspondence with Land Rover, sundry bills, and MoTs dating back to the 1970s.