The first Land Rover was unveiled at the 1948 Amsterdam Motor Show as a new model in the Rover Car Company’s stable. In 1967 Rover would be bought out by British Leyland (BL) - which would fold in 1975. Three years later Land Rover Limited would be formed as a seperate subsidiary of the now publicly owned BL.
The popularity of the Land Rover brand can be attributed primarily to one thing: off-road capability. For example, the short wheelbase version of the Land Rover Defender is capable of tackling a gradient of 45 degrees, an approach angle of up to 50 degrees, a departure angle of 53 degrees and a ramp break-over of up to 155 degrees - greatly superior not just to urban 4x4s but to military vehicles as well. Add to this that early LRs were built of Birmabright, a metal so resistant to corrosion that LR owners were often heard to call other 4x4s “disposables”, and it isn’t hard to see why LR vehicles are found in widespread military, ambulance, and agricultural use to this day.
Although Land Rover has often been regarded as a poor choice for build quality, usually placing at or near the bottom of dependability surveys, enthusiasts will point out that the problems are almost always with interior fit and finish or non-essential electronics. In fact Land Rover’s engines and frameworks are certainly built to last, and it is estimated that 75% of all Land Rovers ever built are still in use today.