THE DISCOVERY STORY

It’s September 1989 and it’s all about to kick off in Germany. No, I’m not talking about the fall of the Berlin Wall: it will be another two months before the barrier that separates East and West Germany crumbles. Right now the Frankfurt Motor Show is the place to be as a ground-breaking new vehicle is unveiled. It is the Land Rover Discovery.

The 1980s had been a difficult decade for Land Rover and on the eve of the 1990s things weren’t looking any better. Despite its 40-year history Land Rover still made just two models – the Land Rover and the Range Rover. It’s a far cry from the array of Land Rovers available today, but the sales of those two vehicles had been enough to keep the company profitable through the 1970s. But by the time the boom years of the 1980s arrived, Land Rover was under attack by a new wave of 4x4s from Japanese companies that could produce reliable and affordable vehicles. Land Rover needed to do the same if it was to survive.

Thus in 1989 the future of Land Rover hung by a thread. Many thought it needed a miracle, but instead it got a saviour. The new Discovery was an instant hit and its sales surpassed the company’s own expectations. It captured the mood of the times and the income it generated was enough to see Land Rover through the hard times that were about to deal fatal blows to most of what remained of the British car industry.

Yet the new Discovery was hardly a revolutionary vehicle. It shared the same 100-inch wheelbase chassis that the Range Rover had used since 1970. It was upon this that Land Rover placed a new body shell. But this was no scaled-down Range Rover: it carved out an identity all of its own, with its stepped roof and raised floor that allowed back-seat passengers to enjoy a great view from the stadium-inspired rear seating.

The interior boasted a fresh new design. If you thought that celebrity designers getting involved with Land Rovers started in 2011 with Victoria Beckham and the Range Rover Evoque, think again. In 1989, Britain’s most famous interior designer was Sir Terrence Conran, founder of Habitats. He specified light blue and beige interiors on the early models, which was enhanced by the Disco’s big windows, that let in plenty of light, aided by alpine windows and optional twin sun roofs.

The unusual pock-marked golf ball-style finish to the acres of pale plastic look a bit dated today, but it captured the spirit of the times nearly 30 years ago. More importantly, the new model could seat five adults in comfort, as well as two more in some degree of discomfort on the optional folding, inward-facing seats in the boot. With the rear seats folded forwards, it also provided a capacious, van-like interior.

Discovery was probably the most versatile vehicle ever produced. On-road comfort was matched by uncompromising off-road and towing ability, marking the start of the Disco’s long reign as the undisputed tow car champion.

Discovery looked like a meaningful Land Rover, too. Beneath the big bonnet lurked a choice of three engines. One was the venerable 3.5-litre V8 petrol, which had been around for two decades but was much loved for its power (if not its thirst). There was also a sub-2.0-litre Mpi petrol engine, aimed at company car owners and the Italian tax system, which favoured cars with a cubic capacity of under 2000cc. But it was hopelessly underpowered, unpopular in the UK and soon dropped from the range. The crowning glory was the all-new 200Tdi engine – by far the best diesel Solihull had ever developed, with plenty of power, low-down torque and economy of almost 30 mpg.

The added bonus was that the new diesel engine could also be placed in its stablemates, the Range Rover and the Land Rover Ninety and One Ten. The latter were then renamed the Defender 90 and Defender 110 to avoid confusion with the new Land Rover.

The first Discoverys were available only with three doors, beacuse Land Rover management were afraid that offering a five-door variant might hit sales of the Range Rover. They needn’t have worried. The whopping success of the Discovery meant the Range Rover could abandon the middle ground and move further upmarket (and Discovery soon goet five doors, after all).

Various improvements were made over its long production run, including an even more refined 300Tdi engine, which many enthusiasts will tell you is the most robust powerplant Land Rover ever produced.

Since 1989, Discovery and Land Rover itself have gone from strength to strength. A gobsmacking array of new models in the intervening years have included second, third, fourth and fifth-generation Discoverys, but I would argue that none of them would have been possible but for the success of the original Discovery of 1989.

I would also argue that the original Discovery looks as good as ever. On the outside, at least, it just hasn’t dated. But I would say that, wouldn’t I? After all, a 300Tdi Discovery is my vehicle of choice and the 1996 automatic that I bought almost 11 years ago is still my everyday vehicle.

There’s no doubt that Discovery 1 is the vehicle that saved Land Rover. And I love it.