The Land-Rover

“The Land-Rover” by Graham Robson. 148 pp. 8 3/4 in. x 5 1/2in. (David & Charles, Newton Abbot, Devon. £4.95.)

Here is the complete story of that workhorse of the World, the Land-Rover, from the abandoned prototypes up to the introduction and development of all the many Land-Rover models and the advent of the luxurious V8 Range-Rover. If some of this material has been published previously, notably in George Oliver’s definitive Rover history, those who have used the Land-Rover in its many and so versatile forms, who have toiled beside it and been assisted by it, should be glad to have the whole inspiring story of British endeavour between two covers. The book is well-illustrated, and it contains information on military Land-Rovers, how this unique vehicle is manufactured (but no longer since 1974, alas, for the United States market, due to complications of safety and exhaust-emission regulations), and how it has changed since the humble beginnings of the project, since when more than 1,000,000 have been manufactured in the same buildings at Solihull.

Almost as interesting as the text and pictures are the Appendices, which cover Rover Company history, specifications, performance, sales for the financial years from 1947/48 to 1974/75, and overall sales’ figures.—W.B.