John Craddock Ltd Magazine (August 2023)
If you have read our previous articles, you can see how passionate we are about all things Land Rover. We often discuss the history of Land Rover models, vehicle maintenance and scenic driving routes. As a Land Rover parts specialist, we believe Land Rover is the best car manufacturer in the world. The company has been manufacturing four-wheel drive vehicles since 1948. Today, the brand is known as a British icon in the luxury car industry.
In this article, we wanted to focus more on the Land Rover brand as it has quite a fascinating history. Continue reading and enjoy the following 5 interesting facts about Land Rover, some of which may surprise you!
1) Land Rover Invented The Monster Truck
During the 1950s, the British Forestry Commission requested a robust vehicle with the ability to withstand muddy and marshy conditions. Land Rover designed and manufactured a bespoke vehicle, similar to a Series 2a model, but added four large tractor tyres and elaborate axles, creating the first original monster truck. Because of this, it’s argued that Land Rover invented the monster truck 20 years before the design was launched in America.
2) The First Land Rover Had A Middle Steering Wheel
Have you ever noticed something slightly different about the first Land Rover prototype? Built in 1947, Land Rover decided to place the steering wheel in the middle of the dashboard, instead of on the right-hand side as standard. The clever design allowed enough space for two passengers to sit on either side of the driver. Additionally, Land Rover didn’t need to manufacture two different versions of the vehicle because it was already suitable for countries with either left or right-hand drive.
3) Range Rover Wasn’t Always Part Of Land Rover
If you don’t know the full history of Land Rover, it was founded in 1948 by the Rover Company. However, the Range Rover wasn’t always part of Land Rover. When the Rover Company was bought by BMW in 1994, they split Land Rover and Range Rover into two separate companies – Land Rover was then bought by Ford in 2000. They remained separate until Ford also bought Range Rover in 2006. Today, both Land Rover and Range Rover are owned by a larger company, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR).
4) Jaguar Land Rover Held All Three Royal Warrants
Jaguar Land Rover is the only car manufacturer to have held all three of the Royal Warrants. This is a prestigious mark of recognition to businesses who have supplied their goods or services to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the late Duke of Edinburgh or HRH The Prince of Wales. Land Rover was granted their first Royal Warrant in 1951 from King George VI, for his love for Land Rover’s early prototype. Since the death of The Duke of Edinburgh in 2021, Jaguar Land Rover currently holds two Royal Warrant badges.
5) Land Rover Has Featured In Many Popular Movies
If you are a film fanatic, you may recall seeing a Land Rover model on your screen. In fact, Land Rover models have been featured in hundreds of popular movies. For example, Tomb Raider, The Italian Job, Get Carter and many others. Both classic and modern models have also appeared in many films in the James Bond series, including Casino Royale, Skyfall, Spectre and No Time To Die. It will be interesting to see if any Land Rover vehicles appear in future movies!
Land Rover Parts, Spares & Accessories At John Craddock
We hope you enjoyed reading our 5 interesting facts about Land Rover. Did you learn something new? We certainly did! If you are the proud owner of a Land Rover model, whether classic or modern, make sure to purchase car parts from a reliable supplier. At John Craddock, we are the largest supplier of genuine Land Rover parts, spares and accessories in the world. Browse our extensive online range of Series, Freelander, Defender, Discovery, Range Rover, 101 Forward Control and Military parts today. For any enquiries, please do not hesitate to contact us.
