1955 Land Rover S1

Land Rover Series 1 (Utility), 1946-1959

The Land Rover Series 1 was in production from 1946 to 1959. Developed in house, it is a front-engine, all wheel drive utility vehicle seating upwards of two adults depending upon its configuration.

The story of the Land Rover is well documented - The Wilks brothers and Spen King developed a vehicle that could match the go-anywhere abilities of WWII surplus Jeeps, which used existing components and as little steel as possible. The idea was as a stopgap until steel rations were lifted, one that could be produced on a tight budget and generate profits for a company emerging into a post war economy. But Land Rover, unexpectedly, had a hit on its hands. Soon the variants flowed - bigger engines, longer wheelbases, hard roofs, pickups, vans, and even a Tickford-crafted station wagon which would form the germ of the idea that was to become the Range Rover.

For 1954 the 80" wheelbase was replaced by an 86" wheelbase - the long wheelbase was introduced at the same time as a 107". For 1956 both wheelbases would be increased by 2 inches, leading to the 88 and 109" formulas that Land Rover would use throughout the rest of the Series run. The front chassis rail would also be moved forward to accommodate a new diesel engine. The only model to be excluded from this was the 107" Station Wagon, which continued on its original wheelbase beyond the launch of the Series 2. The Series 2 would be launched in 1958, eventually replacing all Series 1 models. The 107" Station Wagon would continue to 1959. As with all Series Land Rovers, much of the value is in the strength of the chassis and the bulkhead - it's important that these are solid, and that if they have been replaced the work has been done properly by a reputable specialist.

These days there are several off road alternatives, but in period the closest competitors to the Land Rover would have been either the WWII surplus Jeep, or the Ferguson TE20 tractor. If you're not a Welsh hill farmer and you like the Land Rover as utilitarian on road transport, consider small cars such as the Ford Anglia E494A or Standard Eight as potential alternatives. If you like the Landy's simple drivetrain but don't need all wheel drive, consider the relative luxury of the Rover P4 60 and 80 models instead.