Re: Or a WW2 Jeep!

Posted by Leslie from NCHM03A125.RMT.UTK.EDU on August 06, 1999 at 15:34:24:

In Reply to: Or a WW2 Jeep! posted by Abner on August 06, 1999 at 08:33:49:

: The original Land Rover was based on the design of the Willys Overland Jeep used in WWII, a popular surplus item.

[Oh-oh... here I go...]

The first "Jeep" was produced by Bantam. Not being large enough to handle production demands, the Army brought Willys and Ford into the picture to make oodles of them.

Maurice Wilkes, of the Rover Co., had a WWII Ford Jeep as surplus item after the war for use on his farm. It kept breaking down and needing repairs. He and his brother Spencer decided that they could make a better version of the thing.
This came at an opportune time for Rover, because steel rationing in post-war England prevented them from making many cars. By making body panels out of the surplus aluminum available from the now-defunct airplane business, Rover had an instant export success story... the Land Rover.
The Land Rover first made its debut at the Amsterdam Car Show in 1948, and was a hit. Simple to work on, could go anywhere, useable as transportation or as farm/ industrial machinery, it became legendary in a short time. Everyone from the King of England to Farmer Brown needed one.

I really like Jeeps, don't get me wrong, but Land Rovers have so much more character.

Oh, and older Rovers are called Series Land Rovers; Defender is a name that applies to 90s and 110s that came about in the 80s.

L8R,
Leslie

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Red Rover, Red Rover... Abner 17:27:03 8/06/99 (0)

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: : The original Land Rover was based on the design of the Willys Overland Jeep used in WWII, a popular surplus item.

: [Oh-oh... here I go...]

: The first "Jeep" was produced by Bantam.  Not being large enough to handle production demands, the Army brought Willys and Ford into the picture to make oodles of them.

: Maurice Wilkes, of the Rover Co., had a WWII Ford Jeep as surplus item after the war for use on his farm.  It kept breaking down and needing repairs. He and his brother Spencer decided that they could make a better version of the thing.
: This came at an opportune time for Rover, because steel rationing in post-war England prevented them from making many cars.  By making body panels out of the surplus aluminum available from the now-defunct airplane business, Rover had an instant export success story... the Land Rover.
: The Land Rover first made its debut at the Amsterdam Car Show in 1948, and was a hit. Simple to work on, could go anywhere, useable as transportation or as farm/ industrial machinery, it became legendary in a short time.  Everyone from the King of England to Farmer Brown needed one.

: I really like Jeeps, don't get me wrong, but Land Rovers have so much more character.

: Oh, and older Rovers are called Series Land Rovers; Defender is a name that applies to 90s and 110s that came about in the 80s.

: L8R,
: Leslie

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