Little Book of Land Rover takes a trip down memory lane and looks at the models that drove their way into the nation's heart. This hardback book celebrates one of the most iconic motoring brands in the world, which celebrated its sixtieth anniversary in 2008.
The Land Rover has become an icon across the world, famed for its classic design, its practicality and its longevity. In this revised edition of his acclaimed book, first issued as Land Rover - 60 Years of the 4 x 4 Workhouse, James Taylor charts sixty-five years of Land Rover development in comprehensive detail, bringing the story right up to date with the latest Defender variants. Contents include: Prototypes and development vehicles; Standard production models; The special editions; Land Rovers built outside the UK; Special conversions; Military variants; The Land Rovers that never were. The first book to look at the story of the Land Rover's gradual evolution. Comprehensively researched, extensively illustrated and accessibly presented, this will be an indispensable read for all those who have an interest in the legend that is Land Rover. Superbly illustrated with 476 colour photographs. James Taylor's major specialization is the Rover company and its descendants, and he is widely acknowledged as the pre-eminent historian of the Land Rover.
200,000 kilometres in 3,000 days across five continents. Or in other words, just 66 kilometres a day on average - which is quite enough for a 30-year-old Land Rover. Amidst the Scottish Highlands, battered by the elements, stands a neglected Land Rover. It does not seem to be the ideal vehicle for a trip around the world, but Christopher Many believes otherwise. He has the dream of embarking on a tour de force to the frozen wastelands of Siberia, North and South America, and across the continent of Africa - equipped with little more than a passport, credit card and full tank of petrol. His goal? "To explore strange new worlds and boldly go where no Land Rover has gone before." Intelligently and with perseverance, Christopher scours the globe from Mongolia to Somaliland to find out what makes the earth "tick". Soon enough the adventure turns into a sprawling n-dimensional tapestry of philosophical conundrums, rollercoaster emotions and first-hand observations in 100 countries. When he pulls on a few loose threads, a Pandora's box of information is released, often at odds with conventional Western views. Christopher returns eight years later - exhausted, snake-bitten and malaria-infected - but with a few prized cogwheels in his knapsack, a greater understanding of the world we live in, and, with the love of his life. Equal parts sophisticated lexicon on global affairs and darkly witty travel chronicle, his book presents a vivid picture of the adventures, agonies and joys of world travel, and asks some very "uncomfortable" questions - truly going where few have gone before. Take a ride in Matilda's passenger seat next to this vagabonding philosopher, provided you are not in a rush... 39 colour
Why Not? After all, no-one had ever done it before. It would be one of the longest of all overland journeys – half way round the world, from the English Channel to Singapore. They knew that several expeditions had already tried it. Some had got as far as the desrts of Persia; a few had even reached the plains of India. But no one had managed to go on from there: over the jungle clad mountains of Assam and across northern Burma to Thailand and Malaya. Over the last 3,000 miles it seemed there were ‘just too many rivers and too few roads'. But no-one really knew … In fact, their problems began much earlier than that. As mere undergraduates, they had no money, no cars, nothing. But with a cool audacity, which was to become characteristic, they set to work – wheedling and cajoling. First, they coaxed the BBC to come up with some film for a possible TV series. They then gently persuaded the manufacturers to lend them two factory-fresh Land Rovers. A publisher was even sweet-talked into giving them an advance on a book. By the time they were ready to go, their sponsors (more than 80 of them) ranged from whiskey distillers to the makers of collapsible buckets. In late 1955, they set off. Seven months and 12,000 miles later, two very weary Land Rovers, escorted by police outriders, rolled into Singapore – to flash bulbs and champagne. Now, fifty years on, their book, ‘First Overland', is republished – with a foreword by Sir David Attenborough. After all, it was he who gave them that film.
The Range Rover's designers intended it to be a more comfortable and road-friendly passenger-carrying Land Rover, but customers quickly saw something much more in it. During the 1970s, while its immense practicality and capability were appreciated and acknowledged, a Range Rover became a sought-after and prestigious possession. It went on to change the face of Land Rover for ever. Range Rover First Generation - The Complete Story delves into the real story of the Range Rover, examining what lay behind the multiple changes in its twenty-six years of production. The book covers the full development story; custom and utility conversions; Range Rovers for the US market; full technical specifications and Range Rovers assembled overseas. If ever a car deserved the over-used epithet 'iconic', the first-generation Range Rover is it. The book provides an insight into the little-known difficulties and problems that were so well concealed by the Range Rover's makers and is a must read for all Range Rover and Land Rover enthusiasts. Superbly illustrated with 223 colour and 97 black & white photographs.
Range Rover: The Complete Story James Taylor & Nick DimbleTaylor examines special variants for commercial and emergency service and provides a wealth of information about the individualized custom-built models. Includes coverage of Rover competition machinesand discusses its dual roles as on-road limousine and off-road mud-plugger, providing guidelines to efficient driving. Packed with sound buying advice and stunning photographs. Hdbd., 7 1/2x 1, 28 pg s., 433 b&w ill., 23 color.
Known around the globe as an icon of British engineering, theLand Rover Defender is the ultimate off-roader that has delighted owners for generations. Combining military utility with classic and distinctive design, the Defender had been a ubiquitous presence on the automobile scene since its release more than half a century ago. But 68 years since the first model came on the market, the production line came to a halt in January 2016. This presents the perfect opportunity to look back over the Land Rover's history, from its first iteration as a utility vehicle in 1948, to the 21st Century special editions. Landy fans and petrol-heads alike will love Land Rover Defender, a highly illustrated collection of classic and limited edition models, filled with specs, stats, and images of Defenders both at home and abroad. From its reputation as the essential go-anywhere vehicle, the Defender has even won some famous fans, and owners can include the Queen, Sir Winston Churchill and actor Steve McQueen amongst their numbers. In recent years, the Defender has gained a second life as a city vehicle, and proves itself to be just as at home bombing around the streets of London as it always has been in the West Country mud or on the African savannah. The last model came off the production line in February 2016, and Land Rover Defender will be a treasure trove for car lovers and Landy owners alike.
The subject of this book is the very first Range Rovers and aims to record the story of these earliest vehicles. Photographs have come from a great variety of sources including the British Motor Heritage Trust in Gaydon where most of the original factory photographs are kept.
The British Land Rover 4x4 has grown from 1948 to become one of the world's leading automotive brands. Exactly how it all came together back in the late 1940's and early 50's has been the topic of interest and debate for many years. This was until two Australian enthusiasts, Michael Bishop and Alex Massey quite literally stumbled across senior member of the original Land Rover development team, Arthur Goddard living in Brisbane, Australia in 2009. The discovery led to many of the myths and tales surrounding the early vehicles to be heard as it happened from Arthur's point of view. Then to a trip by Arthur to visit his old work place in Solihull and to the vehicle that he helped bring to life back in 1948. The book contains both a technical and human side to this incredible story as well as a great reunion between Arthur and his old colleague Spen King who went onto design the Range Rover in the 1960's. This is truly a unique story from the time of post War World two Britain to modern day Australia and how the iconic 4x4 grew up so quickly in the 1950's to become the world leader that it is today.