Land Rover marks 70th anniversary
TIMELINE
Land Rover marked its 70th anniversary this week, celebrating what it describes as the world’s favourite 4x4.
It was 70 years ago on Tuesday that the first Land Rover made its debut at the Amsterdam Motor Show, and the company says that since then more than 7 million Land Rovers have been sold.
It all began with what has become the iconic original fourwheel-drive model.
“Today our family of SUVs is testament to the pioneering spirit of innovation that has characterised Land Rover for seven decades,” said the Jaguar Land Rover chief executive, Professor Dr Ralf Speth.
“Our family of Defender, Discovery and Range Rover models provides unrivalled capability, versatility and luxury, giving us the perfect foundation for another 70 years of success.”
Land Rover was, he said, so much more than the most capable all-terrain vehicles, but connected people through a passion for adventure.
“From our employees to customers and enthusiasts, this is a family that makes Land Rover special.”
A vehicle line-up including HUE: the first prototype Land Rover, the original two-door Range Rover and the seven-seater Discovery, as well as expedition-proven models from across the decades, are to share the stage at the Land Rover Classic Works in Coventry.
The current range, including the Range Rover Evoque and Velar SUVs, will feature in a video celebrating Land Rover’s status as a favourite among celebrities, politicians and royalty.
In January, the marque revealed plans to sympathetically renovate the world’s most historically significant unrestored model — one of three pre-production cars from the original Amsterdam launch. It will take the stage alongside its closest modern relative — the 405PS Defender Works V8 revealed earlier this year.
Only 150 of the powerful 70th edition models will be produced, and each of the specially engineered V8 derivatives wouldwill be built by Land Rover Classic’s team of expert engineers.
Series I launched at Amsterdam Motor Show
Long Wheelbase version of the Series I introduced
Series II unveiled with more refined design
Original two-door Range Rover (the Classic) goes on sale Series III launched Millionth Land Rover built A Range Rover wins the inaugural Paris-Dakar rally (and again in 1981)
Four-door Range Rover released
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Discovery, the third Land Rover model, goes on sale
Original ‘Landie’ relaunched and renamed Defender
Second generation Range Rover launched
Third-generation Range Rover with all-round independent air suspension
Freelander 2/LR2 launched. The first Land Rover to be manufactured at Halewood
LRX concept car previews design language of a new luxury compact SUV
Fourth generation of the Discovery introduced
Range Rover Evoque, the world’s first luxury compact SUV, makes global debut
Fourth-generation Range Rover introduced — the first allaluminium SUV
New generation of Range Rover Sport unveiled at New York Motor Show
Evoque Convertible becomes world’s first luxury compact SUV convertible
Last Defender rolls off the production line
Fourth Range Rover, the Velar launched
Limited Edition Range Rover SV Coupe´ debuts at
Geneva Motor Show
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