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Head designer at Rover, Maurice Wilks founded the Land Rover Company shortly after the end of the Second World War. Land Rover cars are typically known for off-road driving, hence the name 'Land Rover'. Prior to the company's inception, the American Jeep Company had pioneered the four-wheel drive off-road vehicle, with the Jeep model being widely used by US forces during the war. The founder of Land Rover was inspired by this influential design, creating his own prototype off-roader using the chassis of a Jeep.
Wilks went on to create the original line of Land Rover cars with the intention of making simple to maintain, durable and versatile vehicles. Early advertisements even claimed that Land Rovers had been tested to run for hundreds of miles using only banana oil. The simple 2.5 litre 300TDi engine has remained in use for many years, only recently being discontinued in 2006. Thanks to military endorsement and a strong reputation, Land Rover sales have remained high throughout the company's existence. The British military, in particular, has used Land Rover cars since before the Korean War.
Ownership of the Land Rover company has changed over the years. Remaining in British hands until relatively recently, Land Rover passed hands from Leyland to British Aerospace. BMW acquired it in 1994 and sold the brand on to Ford. Since 2008, Land Rover has been the property of Tata Motors.
The brand name 'Land Rover' is now synonymous with 4x4 vehicles, particularly on this side of the Atlantic. Just like the Jeep, Land Rover has managed to create a strong legacy and influence over other manufacturers. The brand is an icon of durability and reliability, with high numbers of used and secondhand Land Rover vehicles still in use.
