Friday Fact – Intriguing facts about Land Rover

Say goodbye to a vehicle that’s travelled the world. Today marks the end of 67 years of production of this iconic 4X4, with the last Land Rover Defender rolling off the production line in Solihull.

To mark the occasion we’ve dedicated today’s Friday Facts to Land Rover. Read on for five intriguing facts…

Land Rover - Hue166 early model

1. Built originally by Rover from 1948 onwards, the ‘LR’ company wasn’t actually formed until 1978, making the cars 30 years older than the company itself. Land Rovers are the 2nd oldest four wheel drive vehicle produced. (The 1st goes to Jeep).

2. Joyride anyone? LR used to sponsor vehicles for Oxford and Cambridge students to explore the globe in the name of ‘learning’. Did your college offer you the same? Hmm, mine didn’t either!

3. The one-millionth Land Rover was sold in 1976.

4. A taxing issue: to avoid paying the tax due on passenger vehicles, Land Rover’s Defender 110 could carry up to 12 people, allowing it to be classified as a bus, therefore making it exempt of this duty.  Not only did this make them cheaper to buy, but it also gave you the traffic busting perk of being allowed to use bus lanes! Ding Ding!

12 seater landrover

5. Roads a little worse for wear? Fear not, in the fifties you could order a Land Rover with tank treads from the Rover factory. Well why wouldn’t you? Everyone needs a Chelsea Tractor to cope with the potholes.

Land-Rover-Series-II-Tracked_2

Todays Friday Facts were brought to you by Gerald.
Designer and Land Rover enthusiast.