1954 Land Rover Series 1 SWB 4x4 Wagon

Description

Conceived as a replacement for the wartime Jeep by the Rover Car Company immediately after the cessation of hostilities, the Land Rover first appeared in prototype form in 1947 and used a production Rover 10 engine driving through a standard gearbox with specially built dual-range transfer box. With permanent four-wheel drive, simple but rugged engineering and basic styling, the first Land Rovers did well in the crucial export markets and a great many found their way into service on the land, in the military and industry in Australia over the years. The earliest Land Rovers all shared an 80-inch wheelbase steel box-section chassis with lightweight and easily detachable aluminium panels, including doors, bonnet and windscreen, making them a versatile go-anywhere machine. The original 1.6-litre side-valve engine was enlarged to 2-litres in 1952, with a useful hike in power, while a more conventional dog clutch arrangement was introduced in 1950 - both welcome improvements - but bigger changes were in store. In 1954 Land Rover unveiled a revised 86-inch wheelbase model, supplemented by a longer-wheelbase Station Wagon version on a 107-inch wheelbase, with seating for up to 10 on the rear bench seats. Mid-way through 1954 a new “spread bore” motor was adopted, with better cooling between the cylinders. Now celebrated as an automotive icon, interest in classic Land Rovers is at an all-time high and Series I models are fetching record prices around the world.