Land Rover Series One Review...and OFF ROADING!
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- čas přidán 15. 10. 2022
- Many thanks to Chris from Lakeland Motor Museum, for lending me this superb bit of kit! If you've not been to the museum before, give them a look: www.lakelandmotormuseum.co.uk
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Series 1 Land Rover
1948 was a really exciting year for automotive and many cars we now consider real classics and game changers like the 2CV, the Morris Minor, Jaguar XK120 and the Porsche 356 all launched at motor shows across the world, but perhaps one of the most important vehicles to come to market in 1948, was the Series One Land Rover.
However, it wasn’t all plain sailing in the world of automotive in the 1940s and 50s.
To truly understand the context and how the Series Landy came into existence, it’s worth giving you a bit of historical context. Before the Second World War, Rover had been an independent manufacturer based in Coventry, with vehicles aimed at the middle and upper classes. The pre war Rover we did last year really shows this off perfectly.
During the war, many big manufacturers were forced to give up factories for war effort and Rover was not immune to this and in addition to this, a shadow factory was established in Solihull approximately 14 miles from Coventry.
Coventry was one of the most badly hit cities during the war and in 1940 there were 198 tons of bombs which fell onto the city and of these attacks, one destroyed the Rover factory and all production moved to Solihull.
Cut to the end of the war, Rover is in a very different place to 1939. Old models are outdated and raw materials are in thin supply. The company decide it’s time to do things differently and Rover’s managing director decided to create a stop gap vehicle which would give the company time to design new cars and for the steel supply chain to improve.
The metal of choice was Birmabright, an aluminium alloy which could be easily sourced. The inspiration for the Series was taken from wartime jeeps and the idea was to create a vehicle which was part way between a light truck and a tractor.
The brother of Rover’s chief designer had been using an army surplus jeep on his farm in North Wales and the idea was this vehicle would take its place. It had to be suitable for agricultural use, incorporate a power take off and simple to create; which is how the simple flat panels came into play.
The vehicle we see today takes inspiration from the early prototype, with The early central steering wheel position was moved to the driving position we see today to ensure driver hand signals could be seen and a passenger seat was added in addition to other bits and pieces including the 80 inch ladder chassis.
Dubbed the ‘go anywhere’ vehicle in early marketing literature, the car was debuted at the 1948 Amsterdam motor show and was at first, only available as a two door rag top painted green, priced at £450. Well, I say two door, but guess what, the doors AND the canvas roof were both optional extras.
If you’re wondering how they got away with pricing it so cheaply, they classified the vehicle as a commercial rather than a standard private car to circumvent the taxes levied on cars at the time.
The initial set up was simple: the 1.6 litre petrol engine as used in the pre-war Rovers giving around 50 bhp, fitted with the four speed Rover P3 transmission unit coupled with a new two-speed transfer box. In 1952 the larger 2 litre petrol engine was fitted.
And don’t expect to see the coil springs on this either, they weren’t introduced until 1983. These were fitted with semi-elliptical leaf spring set ups, which was typical for commercials of the era.
This particular example we’re testing today is modified as you may have spotted. We’ve got the sound deadening in the engine bay, a 2 litre inlet over exhaust engine with an alloy cylinder head pinched from a rotted out P4, hence the badging to front and a few other bits like the SU carb instead of standard Solex and different dizzy.
There are also other touches of modern living like the Defender mirrors, different wheels and Ramsey winch.
This is all a basic potted history and there is so much more reading to be had out there if this is an area of interest for you, but for now, let me give you a tour of the dash before we go out adventuring. - Auta a dopravní prostředky
Always a treat to see a non show room Series 1 being driven as it should be. Cheers
Land Rovers look better WITH dents and moss on the roof. Although I really like the modern iteration, I suspect it will never hold its value like an old one.
I'm a yank, from the state of Oregon and can't always make out the language portion of your videos, Steph. I selected the closed caption toggle and oh, what a treat, so much unintended hilarity ensued! In all seriousness, this was one of the best/honest videos of a Land-Rover I've seen.
I always loved Land Rovers, and it's so special to see one in its natural rugged patina and natural habitat. Thanks Steph.
I had a 1958 series 1. On a fine summer day, I could take the roof off, fold down the windscreen and whizz around town, my baby daughter in her pram in the back. Lifting out the driver's seat to access the fuel filler always raised a smile at garages. It was phenomenally cool and a total blast to own and drive. I sold it 25 years ago, but it's still around and turns up at shows, much improved from my day!
Vintage Land Rovers through the 90s are the coolest. Enjoyed this one👍
Great review Steph, and good to see Chris from the Lakeland Motor Museum again, you done excellent on the course.
I am a previous owner of VYA306, great example, very usable 👍
Hi James, just saw this message, let me know if you'd like to see VYA306 again.
Chris
Always admired these early Land Rovers. Enjoyed the review. 😎
"The World's Most Versatile Vehicle." So said the Series I, II, and IIA factory sales brochures. I'm an American. I believe the Land Rover series vehicles were quite unique. I owned a few of them from 1964 (a 1962 Series IIA 88" s/n 24402456A), a 1967 109" 2.6 liter NADA station wagon (which I converted to Series III with the NADA 6-cylinder still in it), and a Series III (88" 2.25 liter petrol deluxe hard top to U.S. spec, 25900379A). There was nothing in 1960's, 1970's, and beyond that, in my opinion, was as much fun to drive as a well cared for Land Rover. I loved them so much I had my own Land Rover parts business in San Diego, California from 1974 to 1986. Great video! Thank you! Andy McKane, Maunaloa, Hawaii.
Great review 👏 brings back memories of my time working on a farm. Series 1 land rover was the first car I ever drove.( A tractor was the first vehicle ). The scrapes I had with it (all on farm land) are a tribute to it's hardiness 😃
One of my favourite cars of all time - Thanks Steph!
Greetings from Santa Fe New Mexico!
Great video, wonderful, thoughtful things to say about the vehicle as ever. The off road course really gave it the appropriate feeling for a Land-Rover review. Good driving and gear work too (of course). Thank you for taking us along!
That was fun Steph. I worked on a farm in 1975 and we had one of these - fantastic vehicles and great fun to drive. Since then I've worked where there was a series 2 and also a series 3. There is 'something' about Land Rovers - I'd love to have one now, but can't warrant having a car these days. Great video as usual Steph, thanks for sharing it with us and stirring such great memories. Take care 🙂
A Proper Land Rover! The nearest I have driven was an early series 2 swb that we had at work. It always started on the button, would pull like a train and absolutely guzzled petrol! We all loved her though and were sad when we said goodbye. I am not 100 % sure but I think she still survives, as I caught a glimpse of one up in Norfolk with a very similar registration number. So maybe she lives on.....but then, old Landies don't die, do they? Thanks for the memories.
A series 1 Land Rover in its natural habitat what could be better? As you say Steph some people moan about them and others don't even like them but I say if it was good enough for our late Queen then it would be good enough for me if I was thinking of buying one. I think an older one would be better to buy you can always get the hammer out if needed 😉. Thanks for sharing this slightly different experience with us Steph and thanks also to Chris for giving you the opportunity to drive such a gem 💎 .👍👍Oh and Freddie of course 😊.
Good choice for driving the Land Rover off road. That is intended terrain for the vehicle.
Brilliant. Utterly brilliant
Brill video love the mk1 land rover. But also that path looked georgous for a walk!
Whilst it's lovely to see a fully restored, immaculate in every way, restored Landy, I think you can't beat a properly used one, with a few battle scars.....
I drove a 1953 series 1 from London to Senegal (Dakar) in 1973. It also had a transplant engine from a Rover car, not sure which one. The fuel setup suffered from vapour lock in the heat of the Sahara and made life very difficult. We left our return to the UK very late and ran into sandstorms in Mauritania. We were advised not to proceed so returned to Dakar where the Land Rover was sold at auction in a street market.
Enjoyed this test! It's probably a good idea for anyone driving a current 4x4 with all the electronic aids for off roading purposes to try it old school at least once.
Takes me back my early teen years traveling in landies with my brother, brother in law and in the military in Rhodesia. Love these oldies but goldies.❤🎉
Love your reviews.. I like the way they are informative but unsourced fun .⛺️🚙🏴
Thank you for posting Steph, you really made my day. 😊👍
You are absolutely spoiling us Steph with all of these fantastic videos back to back! This one looked like such good fun.
Brilliant review Steph, and a lovely example !... I think the fuel tank under the driver's seat must have been common in commercial vehicles of the era ? My Niece's husband drives a '59 or '60 American Chevrolet Apache, same scary tank location! 😳
I think you are right. I’ve got an old Willy’s Jeep and the fuel tank is under the drivers seat as well. A bit disconcerting I must say.
The american WW2 era Willys Jeep, too, had the tank right under the driver's seat. Same tank location also for italian army's "Automezzo da Ricognizione" (Reconnaissance Vehicle) built in the 1950s and 1960s, first the Alfa Romeo "Matta" AR-51 and later the FIAT "Campagnola" AR-59.
They were designed and built in Italy but were heavily influenced both from the Land Rover (Alfa Romeo) and from the american WW2 Willys Jeep (FIAT). Actually hundreds, or possibly even thousands of ex US Army Jeeps were used from italian army and police from 1946 to the late1950s.
Awesome same as my first motorcar at 17 years old, SWB Series I 1957, all the Best
Great history lesson of the LR, thanks!
Great video! Thanks so much for sharing.
Great reviews as always Steph. Love it being done in the way (and the format) that I for one have always been familiar with over many a number of years that I have loved cars. Come to think of it, I was born in Motor Show month, and since 1967 I have had the Motor Show Review mags and various other car-related mags. In fact, when I started to outgrow comics as far back as Autumn 1970, one of my first so-called "grown-up" mags was an edition of Car Mechanics. That's the mag that had a "Can We Help?" feature in which readers wrote to the mag's Technical Editor telling him of their problems they had with their cars, such as brake bother, whether to use a performance enhancing agent or any other problem with the car either way technically. These mags can be found on the usual market places, Amazon & eBay. Love ya Steph, and great driving.
Bringing you back to your days on a tractor !!! Very cool ......next one....use the PTO !
I can smell that Land Rover from my childhood. My father repaired these and other British cars, I would "help" some times. I remember them being either that green or gray, maybe this was only Canadian versions. Great video and so many memories.
That looks like a lot of fun. A proper Landie
That's how they should look! Great review. 👌
Lovely stuff Steph
So classy Steph. I thought you had been hired on TV! 👏🏻 I am so thankful for your videos.
Fun video, thank you!
Hello Steph. That was a brilliant video. Very informative on the technical side, good filming from Fred and a lovely location. You made the drive look easy when i thought it would be a real challenge for any first timer who is not used to it. It was obviously at home in the green lanes rather than A roads or motorway where i assume the noise levels would be ear shattering. Thank you for a quality production.
Excellent presentation Steph.
Always interesting and entertaining.
Looking stylish with the yellow coat also.
Keep up the excellent work.
Great video, so informative.
Really enjoyable vid.... thank you.
Great review. 👏👏👏
Always loved the Series One 👍
I learnt to drive in one. Thanks for the Memories. 😁👍👍👍
That’s super cool!
Extra power in the aux socket, both positive so 24v. Nice review Steph!
Quite possibly the most elegant and knowledgeable off roader ever. Excellent review and fantastic in depth information. Have you watched Land Rover Sophie? I urge you to.
I just happened onto you channel. Brilliant review. I really enjoyed it.
Great film
Great review and potted history.
Terrific history, really detailed. That model is the same age as me, think it may have worn better!
Great video.
That crossflow motor was a gem
Thanks mate... cheers from down under 👍🇳🇿
Really nice review. These cars are so charming, not sure I'd want one for every day though. As a third car it would be fun.
Thats my dream true, what a nice Car, i love it, the design is only wow
Good stuff.
The powerful series 1 in his home ground 😎
Your video was a great, I appreciate your 😊
I your enthusiasm 🎉
Great review Steph! I met Chris yesterday at his museum and he was giving me some tips for my Land Rover restoration. He is a top bloke and if you haven’t been to his museum yet you must give it a visit (link in the video description).
Awesome, it’s a year younger than me 😂 Great review 👍
Wow that Redex gauge is real cool
Your sound had improved tremendously, congratulations.
A vehicle without any electronic " help " does the job ,unbelievable!
I have an older landrover. Had it for over 20 year & I’ll never part with it. Great vehicle & it’s took me everywhere.
Best presenter ever
Cool ramsey winch on a series 1.. ❤️
Looove it.
Great video
Hi My Lady from Puerto Rico 🌹💟
Ian at HubNut uploaded a video on the 1920s Austin 12 earlier today, and that also has the petrol tank under the seat.
Too late, saying you cant justify buying one. you have just caught landroveritis. love the review as the owner of an 86 trials motor and a defender.
Love the vid.
I remember seeing this vehicle in The gods Must Be Crazy.
Great motorcar, I had one from 1975 to 2005. A second class ride is better than a first class walk!
Lovely MK 1 Landy is probably my fave car' vehicle in fact any Landrover for me just rocks because they are an icon' Legend and BRITISH.
I like the switch that does absolutely nothing : )
The 2litre rover car engine in this example is almost identical to the landrover version of the time. Apart from an aluminium cylinder head with an SU carb and a different distributor they were just the same, even quoted the same power output.
I’d agree that anyone can master driving an old Landie, but I would say that on the road, at least, it is an acquired taste!
I've had 3 over the years all 86in alas they are stupid money now, miss mine
My god you don't half know your classic, keep up the good work 👍
I learnt to drive in a Series 1. Definitely best off road though.
Cool an it is still good off road.
Great video of the English countryside!!!
Land rover's seem to be the holy grail of off roaders but as a lad back in the early 70's I can vividly remember land rovers being used to launch speedboats off a popular beach . One time I remember a Land rover had got stuck trying to recover a boat and trailor with the tide coming in fast and the beach tractor service was also involved and the old David Brown also stuck . My Father was pleaded with to assist with our Austin Champ and with both the tractor and Landy stuck axle deep in the soft sand , the 1952 Austin Champ pulled both of them out to safety without even being ruffled . The land rover owner who saw the superior traction of the Champ immediately sold the spindly little landy and bought a Champ within a week . So I dont join the people raving about the off road abilities of the Landy
Apart from die hard British Leyland and Austin fans like me, who remembers or knows anything about the Austin Champ?
I have got the serious wants for a series landy. I could probably cure that with a 100 mile drive in one though if my memory of past journeys in them is correct 😅
I think it was 1966 or 1967 working in PNG I was driving a series one from Ilolo to Itikinumu plantation the road being so bad and the steering also bad, I only noticed I had been driving with a flat front tyre when I tried to turn to the right.
Does it have a heater? It's 8˚C(46˚F) today and damp and a heater is nice on Autumn days like this in Toronto. I love this version of Land Rover, unfortunately we owned a Land Rover Discovery SE7 for 6 interminable years, a maintenance nightmare, albeit a very capable off-road vehicle, simplicity may have helped.
Every time i see an older Land Rover, I immediately envision the antics in "The Gods Must Be CRAZY!", (Part One)..... Time to drive to the store and buy a six pack of Mexican Coca-Cola, in glass bottles.... Ten years of my working life, was spent at Smiths Aerospace (SIADS), followed by an additional two at SEOS Displays (before E&S/Northrop). With that said, every time I see "Smiths" at the top of the speedometer, I remember great days, spent with awesome co-workers. It's just a damn shame you Brit's are so adept at cheating at darts!
If WW3 breaks out Steph. I hope you are on my side as you will have a go at anything. Top job.
Nothing wrong with the girbox, many cars of that time had at least one or two girs unsynroniced!
can you do a wartburg review please? (x)
I have never driven a series one Land Rover but l have had a ride in one and it was on a farm and it was when l was very young in the early 1960s and as you said these old Land Rovers do go wrong but you can fix them your self and this one you drove is 66 years old and still driving around how many new Land Rovers will be around in 50 to 60 years l would say none as they say they don't build like they used to
On Roading. (In before the glass members)
Was someone playing drums in the back ?
Funny how the gear shift is so far away from you , like it was made for left hand drive.
Have you still got my request to test drive a Peugeot 309?
Zoom zoom!
When you see one of these great vehicles you realise that you can go anywhere without having a dirty great big V8 vehicle
90% of all Land Rovers are still on the road, the other 10% reached home.
I want it, please.?
For more sound reduction from the engine, remove and convert to an Electric Vehicle ❤
Great vid. What a shame Land Rover are such an awful brand now. These originals were true classics.