Vehicle Description
Those of us in the car business love to throw around words like
"Iconic", "Legendary" and "Archetypal". Perhaps it is because, as
enthusiasts we feel so passionate about our favorite machines that
we resort to trusty superlatives to describe them - however
deserving (or not) the car may be of such praise. But there are
some vehicles that pass beyond the borders of our beloved hobby and
earn themselves a place as cultural icons. Usually, this comes
courtesy of groundbreaking styling, sporting success, or in the
case of the Land Rover, through faithful service in war and in the
hands of those working the most rugged corners of Earth. The Land
Rover was directly inspired by another cultural icon - the Jeep.
Rover's chief engineer Maurice Wilks, working on his family farm
alongside his brother (and Rover's Managing Director) Spencer,
developed a prototype in 1947 based on a leftover Jeep chassis. The
idea was for a vehicle that could serve in a military setting, or
provide versatile and inexpensive transport for farmers and
tradespeople. When it was introduced a year later, the Land Rover
would become a near instant success. The chassis was a robust steel
ladder-type with a full-time four-wheel-drive system. Due to
post-war steel shortages, the body was constructed from aluminum
which was much easier to source at the time. One notable benefit
was that the body didn't suffer from serious rust that similar
steel bodies would. All early Land Rovers were painted varying
shades of drab green - quite literally surplus paint used to finish
aircraft cockpits during WWII. Initially, a 1600 cc petrol engine
powered the Land Rover, with a 2000 cc diesel offered from 1957.
Throughout production, a wide variety of body styles and
configurations were offered to suit just about any imaginable
situation. For farmers and industry, countless aftermarket PTO
accessories could transform the trusty�Landie�into virtually any
type of machine needed in the field. Its incredible toughness,
dependability and versatility earned the Land Rover a place as one
of the most valuable tools in a tradesman's arsenal. It found favor
around the globe, serving owners on virtually every continent. This
charming 1955 Series I Land Rover Station Wagon is a short
wheelbase (86") station wagon that presents in very original
condition. This right-hand drive wagon is delightfully
well-preserved, showing what appears to be maybe one paint job in
its lifetime, which now exhibits a wonderful patina that is
perfectly appropriate for an old Land Rover. There are a few battle
scars and a dent or two in the alloy body, which just adds to the
appeal - like a well-used tool. Robust bumpers are fitted front and
rear, and the plain white wheels are unadorned, with no frivolous
trim or wheel covers. The spare wheel is mounted on the hood in
traditional Land Rover fashion. Thanks to the four jump seats in
the rear compartment, this little Landie will seat seven
passengers. It seems almost absurd how today's bulbous, oversized
crossovers and SUV's grow to enormous proportions to accommodate
seven seats, when this little Landie can do it in the span of just
an 86" wheelbase. Of course, a certain degree of comfort is
sacrificed in the name of practicality, but it is still a testament
to the efficient packaging of the original design. Passenger
capacity aside, the interior is all business, yet presents in good
order with tough gray vinyl covering the seats. The fixed rear roof
features safari windows for some extra light and the front door
windows are simple Perspex sliders. It is fitted with an optional
heater and windscreen wipers should one encounter properly British
weather while bouncing through a field. The engine bay is tidy and
exhibits signs of maintenance, though it is pure function over
form. The legendary 2.0 litre petrol engine runs strong and is a
joy to motor around, perched high on the driver's seat, peering
through the split �screen. It isn't fast, and the engine isn't
particularly sonorous, but there is a joy to driving and old Land
Rover like this. While it is always nice to have a car that is
fully restored and returned to showroom new condition, there is
just something more appealing about a Landie in this kind of
condition; a tough old machine that is proud to work and proud to
show off the scars it's earned through its life.
