Unique Cars For Sale from 1953 to 1963 in northgate

1963 Mercedes-Benz 190SL

Details: Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale a 1955 factory right hand drive Volkswagen Type 2 (T1) split screen 23 window De Luxe Microbus, otherwise known as a Samba or Kombi. The Zertifikat on file from Stiftung Automuseum Volkswagen dated 1st September 2011 confirms this is a factory right hand drive model 244 VW De Luxe Microbus. It was built on 11th March 1955 and left the factory on 18th March 1955. It was delivered to Volkswagen dealer Kemsley in London, UK. The certificate also tells us it was delivered with the following options: sealed-beam headlamps (M011), towing hooks front and rear (M029), Westfalia camping equipment (M108) and Safari windscreens (M113). At some stage this Kombi found its way to Australia. It is not known exactly when it was imported, but the Department of Transport has confirmed this must have been prior to 1989. There are receipts on file from the early 1990s indicating its then owner initially lived in Seymour, Victoria before moving to Brisbane mid 1990s. The car was sold in 2001 to its next Brisbane based owner. The current owner, who is also Brisbane based, acquired the car in October 2004. At that time it was painted in green and white. The odometer read 13, 354 miles. The car was used and enjoyed through until 2010, at which time its owner decided to return his Kombi back to its former glory. He enlisted the services of Das Resto Haus on the Gold Coast for the restoration. The owner wanted to return the car to its original colour scheme of Chestnut Brown (Code: L73) over Sealing Wax Red (Code: L53). The owner opted to make some upgrades to the Kombi to make it a more usable classic. The engine was replaced with a new 1, 654 cc engine of the correct type. The rear suspension was upgraded to an independent rear suspension setup and the original drum brakes were replaced with disc brakes. All the body work was completed around June 2012 after which the Kombi was repainted. The interior was retrimmed in correct light brown vinyl. The owner also managed to find the very rare foldable left seat to complete the interior. There is a thick file of invoices on file documenting most of the work done. It has now been just over 10 years since this Kombi was restored, however, it has been well cared for and today it still presents very well. From a meter away the paint work looks magnificent, however, when you get closer to the car you will notice some orange peel in the paint. This is mainly below the swage line and most noticeable on the drivers side of the car. There are no significant stone chips or other imperfections. All the panel gaps are very good. The external trim is minimalistic, but presents well. The glass (of which there is plenty!) is in good condition and, with the exception of the two front windows, appears to be all original. The steel wheels are shod with Coker Classic tyres, size 165R15, date stamped 2313 (week 23, 2013). They appear to have hardly been used but probably should be replaced based on age if one would consider doing some serious driving. A cool detail on these early Kombis are the semaphores. They are operational, however, for safety the current owner has installed additional indicators which are discretely positioned underneath the bumpers front and rear. Open the door and it immediately becomes obvious that this Kombi has been sparingly used since it was restored. Everything still presents like it would have done 10 years ago and there is hardly any sign of usage. The front seats present well and provide ample support. The back seats present equally well and it appears as if they have never been used. The carpets are in excellent condition. All the instruments in the dashboard present well and appear to be in good working order. There is an aftermarket RetroSound radio fitted. After getting comfortable behind the steering wheel, we make ourselves familiar with the very basic controls in preparation for our test drive. The car starts easily even from cold and quickly settles into a smooth idle with that familiar Volkswagen sound from its air-cooled engine. There is something about this car, it is just cool and we are genuinely excited to see how it performs on the open road. After allowing the engine to warm up, we move the gear lever to select first gear and off we go. For someone not familiar with a Kombi, the driving position takes a little bit of getting used to as you are basically sitting on top of the front wheels! As a result, driving around a corner feels a little bit weird initially. You get the feeling you are turning too late to make the corner, yet you do so easily. This Kombi just wants to go! The engine revs freely and there is enough power on tap to easily keep up with modern day traffic. The gearbox is smooth both up and down the box. The upgraded brakes stop the car quickly and in a straight line when required. With the 23 windows it is needless to say the visibility is good all around. It also makes the Kombi feel spacious and bigger than it actually is. Today the odometer reads 65, 631 miles. In recent years these Volkswagen Type 2 (T1) split screen 23 window De Luxe Microbus (otherwise known as Sambas or Kombis) have become highly collectable. These early cars are extremely rare and the ones to have, particularly in right hand drive. This particular example ticks a lot of boxes and can be used and enjoyed as is or taken to the next level by rectifying the paint issues. This Kombi would be a perfect beach house car and would turn plenty of heads at any cars and coffee! The Volkswagen club scene is very active in Australia and this Kombi would definitely be a welcome sight at any of their events Highlights: - Factory right hand drive early 23 window Microbus - Original colour combination - Sympathetically upgraded - Ready to use and enjoy or take it up to the next level. Price $229,950 Background: In the early 1930s cars were a luxury. Most Germans could afford nothing more elaborate than a motorcycle. Only one German out of 50 owned a car. Seeking a potential new market, some car makers began independent peoples car projects, such as the Mercedes 170H, Adler Autobahn, Steyr 55, and Hanomag 1. 3L. The trend was not new. Béla Barényi, an Austro-Hungarian engineer is credited with having conceived the first basic design in the mid-1920s. In Germany, Hanomag produced the 2/ 10PS Kommisbrot a small, cheap, rear-engined car from 1925 1928 and Czechoslovakia produced the popular Tatra 7. Ferdinand Porsche had been trying for years to get a manufacturer interested in a small car suitable for a family. He built a car named the Volksauto from the ground up in 1933, using many popular ideas and several of his own. Key features of the car were an air-cooled rear engine, torsion bar suspension, and a beetle shape with the front hood rounded for better aerodynamics (necessary as it had a small engine). In 1934 Adolf Hitler became involved. He ordered the production of a basic vehicle that needed to be able to transport 2 adults and 3 children at 100km/ h. He wanted all Germans to have access to a car. The peoples car would be available at 990 Reichsmark. A special savings plan was introduced. A person could save 5 Reichsmark a week to realise their dream of owning their own car. Over 300, 000 people participated in this savings plan, however, the whole project was financially unsound. No private industry was able to meet the requirements and produce a car that could be sold for 990 Reichsmark. On the 28th May 1937 the Gesellschaft zur Vorbereitung des Deutschen Volkswagens GmbH (Company for the Preparation of the German Volkswagen Ltd) was formally established by the German Labour Front and in 1938 the first prototypes of the KdF-Wagen (Kraft durch Freude) started to appear. On 16th September 1938 the company was renamed Volkswagenwerk GmbH and the company built its main plant in KdF-Stadt which later became Wolfsburg. The outbreak of the Second World War and integration into the arms industry prevented mass production of the Volkswagen peoples car. Instead, military vehicles and other armaments were produced using forced labour. In April 1945, KdF-Stadt and its heavily bombed factory were captured by the Americans, and subsequently handed over to the British, within whose occupation zone the town and factory fell. The factories were placed under the control of Saddleworth born British Army officer Major Ivan Hirst, by then a civilian Military Governor with the occupying forces. One of the factorys wartime KdF-Wagen cars had been taken to the factory for repairs and abandoned there. Hirst had it repainted green and demonstrated it to British Army headquarters. Short of light transport, in September 1945, the British Army was persuaded to place a vital order for 20, 000 cars. The rest as they say is history. The Volkswagen or VW Beetle was born. In 1946 Dutch Volkswagen importer Ben Pon visited the Volkswagen factory in Wolfsburg with the intention to purchase Beetles for import into the Netherlands. During this visit he saw an improvised vehicle based on the Beetle chassis being used to transport materials around the factory, a Plattenwagen. That made him think and he came up with a sketch of what became the Type 2 Volkswagen. That sketch, dated 23 April 1947, can today be found in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Volkswagen liked the idea, however; the Volkswagen factory was at capacity producing Beetles. Eventually, the Type 2 was approved for production on 19th May 1949 and the first example rolled off the production line on 12th November 1949. The rest as they say is history. The Volkswagen Bus, otherwise known as Microbus, Transporter, Samba or Kombi depending on the body style and market, became very popular all around the world and is still produced today.

Details: Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely magnificent Mercedes-Benz 190SL. The Lieferschein or Delivery Note on file confirms this example was delivered in November 1957 and exported to New York. The car was finished in the classic Mercedes-Benz colour of white (paint code DB50) with a black interior and black soft top. It also confirms that the car is matching numbers. The car was restored by SL Classics in Germany in 2015. It was then sold by Gooding & Company at their Amelia Island auction in March 2016 to a UK collector. More recently, the car has found its way to Australia. Today the odometer reads 285 miles, which is most likely the mileage since the car was restored. This car is STUNNING in every regard, apart from a very minor scrape under the front bumper which most likely occurred when the car was shipped. Accompanying the car is an unrestored hard top. Hard to find better. Highlights: - Restored by SL Classics in Germany to an exceptionally high standard. - Original colour and matching numbers. - Fitted luggage. - Ready show, use and enjoy. Price $314,950 Background: Following the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, Europes car industry was decimated. In Germany both Daimler and Benz went back to producing cars post-war, however, times were tough. A merger between Daimler and Benz would ensure that both companies survived and following a technical co-operation agreement in 1924, the companies formally merged on the 1st July 1926. Mercedes-Benz was born! Subsequently, Mercedes-Benz went on to build some of the greatest cars of all time. The cars from Stuttgart bearing the three-pointed star all had one thing in common . . . they were renowned for their technical innovation, build quality, luxury and performance. In the 1950s Mercedes Benz produced one of the greatest cars of all time the iconic 300SL Gullwing and 300SL Coupe. Whilst fabulous cars, they were very expensive and generally sold to the rich and famous. Mercedes wanted to build a sporting luxury car that still looked classical in the mould of the 300SL, but it had to be affordable and the plan was to build such a car in far greater numbers than the exclusive 300SLs. Enter the Type W121 or 190SL as it became known in the mid 1950s. This model was an outstanding success and circa 25,000 cars were built over the next 8 years of production. The formula worked and Mercedes Benz carried it on with great success in the 1960s with the Type W113 230SL/250SL/280SL models. This evolved into the Type R107/C107 280SL(C)/350SL(C)/380SL(C)/450SL(C) models built throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Mercedes-Benz marketed the 190SL as . . . as sports car for all seasons. To quote their website: . . . Sporting elegance, safety and comfort with these qualities the 190 SL conquered a whole new circle of enthusiastic fans of dynamic driving. Mercedes-Benz unveiled the prototype of the 190 SL (W 121) at the International Motor Sports Show in New York in February 1954, alongside the production version of the 300 SL Gullwing. Although the two-seater roadster with folding soft top stirred passions, it was to undergo a further thorough revision by the Mercedes-Benz designers known at the time as stylists. In March 1955, a full year after the New York premiere, the production version went on display at the Geneva Motor Show. Like its elder brother, the spectacular 300 SL Gullwing, the 190 SL rapidly became one of the most coveted dream cars of its day. Although less powerful than the 300 SL, it generated no less excitement and opened up the SL legend to a wider circle of customers. By 1963 sales had totalled 25,881 units. And even long-distance drives were enjoyable thanks to the comfortable suspension. The handsome sports car for all occasions was particularly popular among female drivers, who appreciated not only the sporting elegance of its design, but also the open-air feeling that came as standard. With its easy-to-operate soft top and optionally available coupé hardtop, the 190 SL was the first SL to combine the possibility of open-top driving with absolute all-weather capability.

Details: Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale an absolutely delightful, Australian delivered, factory right hand drive 1959 Porsche 356 A 1600. There is a letter on file from Porsche, Germany dated 5th July 1990 confirming this car was manufactured in June 1959 and delivered new through Porsche dealer Hamilton in Australia. The car was delivered with the following specifications: colour: orange (paint code 711), interior: vinyl, optional equipment: green tinted windscreen, right hand drive, hub caps with badge, US bumpers and moldings. We can confirm that this car retains its original matching numbers engine. The early history of this car is not known. The story starts in 1983, when on the 26th August, ownership of this car transferred from Chris Katos to Andrew McRitchie. There is also a note on file confirming McRitchie purchased the car for the sum of $3,500. At that time the car was carrying the Victorian registration HEA111 but it was sold unregistered with the note it required extensive renovation. McRitchie decided to restore the car and what followed was an 8 year journey. Importantly, he meticulously documented everything he did. There is a 35 page document on file showing exactly what he did, when he did it and the number of hours he spend doing it! There is also a thick file of receipts. The project started in May 1984 and it was finally finished in October 1992. In total he spend 3,910 hours restoring his Porsche and as the document states, this didnt include the hours spend by brothers, sisters, father, friends, the paint shop, the machine shop and the time spend on collecting the necessary replacement parts! We have seen many good history files but rarely do we come across a write up as detailed as this. McRitchie was obviously a very detail minded, dedicated and meticulous owner. There is a Vic Roads Certificate of Roadworthiness on file, dated 7th March 1993, at which time the odometer read 45,922 miles. In December 2006 the current owner acquired the car from McRitchie. At that time the odometer read 49,521 miles. There is a valuation report on file from a week after he purchased the car which states: Vehicle fully restored from ground up, on inspection many restoration photos of the vehicle sighted also, Michelin 165×15 tyres, drivers side mirror, vehicle immaculate condition throughout. The previous owner had clearly cherished his car after he completed the restoration. The current owner is a real Porsche enthusiast and he has thoroughly enjoyed his 17+ years of ownership of this fabulous 356. He has used the car, travelling just over 22,000 miles in his ownership. The way the car presents today you would think it has travelled only 2,200 miles in his ownership! Today the odometer reads 68,861 miles. The car has been maintained and regularly serviced by well known and respected classic Porsche specialist McKernan Restoration in Kippa-Ring, Queensland. During one of these services it was noted that the split case gearbox in the car was in very poor condition and in November 2012 the decision was made to replace it with a period correct gearbox from a slightly later model 356A. To make the 356 more reliable and easier to start a electric fuel pump was fitted in January 2015. In September 2020 the carburettors were overhauled. The most recent service was executed in October 2023 and at that time the odometer read 68,030 miles. Today this car still presents exceptionally well. It has hard to believe that the restoration was completed some 30 years ago. The car is a credit to its current and previous owner, but particularly to the quality of the restoration. When you first see the car you are immediately charmed by its colour. The blue is truly striking and it really suits the car. It also contrasts perfectly with the tan interior. The paint on the car is generally in a very good condition. This car has been used as its makers intended by both its current and previous owner and as a result there is some light wear and tear evident. There are some stone chips and very small paint imperfections here and there, but you have to look. The glass on the car is all in excellent condition with no evidence of any cracks, though there are a few very small chips on the windscreen. All the external trim, including the lights and lenses are in good condition. The painted steel wheels are generally in good condition. There are a few small chips here and there and one or two marks that look to be from balancing weights that were previously fitted. The wheels are shod with Vredestein Sprint Classic tyres, size 165HR15, date stamped 0116 (week 1, 2016). The tyres are still in a good condition. Open the door and you are presented with a minimalistic, yet very good looking interior. First impressions are good. The seats present well with no cracks or tears in the leather. In the back you find two small seats which appear to have hardly been used, if at all, since the restoration. The door cards present well and even the carpets are in very good condition. The dashboard also presents well. In Australia, the top of the dashboard often gets affected by the harsh sun, but that is not the case here. All the instruments are crisp and clean. The engine bay presents well. It is neat, clean and tidy. The same can be said for the boot, where you will find the rubber mat, spare wheel and jack. Sliding in behind the wheel is like putting on your favourite old leather jacket. It just feels right! The seats are comfortable and still provide ample support. Everything you see is basic, yet that is exactly how you expect it to be. The steering wheel is in excellent condition and is a real feature on these cars. Once comfortable behind the wheel you ready to go. The starting procedure is simple. This car is fitted with an aftermarket fuel pump and a battery isolator. Switch both on, insert the key into the ignition and turn the ignition on. After allowing the fuel pump a little bit of time to fill the carburettor, turn the key further to start the car. This car still runs its original six volt electrical system and as a result you might think your battery is low on voltage when you crank the engine. However, that is normal and the engine starts easily, even from cold, and the car quickly settles into a smooth idle with that typical air cooled engine sound. After allowing the engine to warm up, select first gear and away you go! We were curious to see if this Porsche 356 would drive as good as it looks. Would we be disappointed? The short answer is no . . . it drives superbly! The engine sounds great and it pulls willingly through the rev range. The car just wants to go! The gearbox feels tight and the gear changes are precise and direct. The car feels solid on the road, the steering feels direct and the brakes pull the car up quickly and in a straight line when needed. We did notice that the speedo waves a bit every now and then, especially when you accelerate from low speed. However, once you are at cruising speed it settles and indicates the correct speed. The oil temperature gauge is not working. This is a very well sorted Porsche 356 A that is just a lot of fun to drive. This is the type of car you can just get in, use and enjoy. There are a few small things one can do to further improve the car but nothing that requires immediate attention. Accompanying the car is a very good history file, including a detailed restoration dossier, some photographs, a Porsche letter confirming the cars provenance, a spare wheel and a jack. Highlights: - Australian delivered, factory RHD 356 A. - An older but high quality, meticulous restoration. - Great colour combination. - Matching numbers, engine and chassis. - Very well presented car, ready to use and enjoy. Price $259,950. Background: The Porsche story is a fascinating one and its roots go back to the 1930s when Professor Ferdinand Porsche was instrumental in the design of the first Volkswagen and also Auto Union race cars. By 1939 he had built three Porsche cars to compete in the 800-mile race from Berlin to Rome. Unfortunately, the race was cancelled due to the war and Porsche was forced to focus on supporting the German war effort, however, he had always wanted to build his own cars. In 1944 Porsche was forced to leave Stuttgart and he set up a small operation in Gmünd, Austria. Soon after the Porsche family and many of their engineers were captured and sent to jail. Ferdinand Porsches son. Ferdinand junior, or Ferry as he was known, was released six months later and he returned to Gmünd to rebuild the family company. Things moved quickly and Porsche was involved with cars again and in mid-1948 the first Porsche 356 was built. It is understood Porsche built some 50 aluminium bodied cars by hand in their small factory at Gmündbefore relocating back to Stuttgart, Germany in 1949. Instead of building the body of the car himself Porsche decided to collaborate with an old partner, the body manufacturing company Reutter who had both the expertise and infrastructure to mass produce the bodies for the 356 coupe and cabriolet. Nowadays, the first series of the 356, built from 1948 through until 1955 are known as the 356 Pre A. In 1955 the 356 A was introduced. The internal factory designation for this model was Type 1 which was quickly adapted by enthusiasts who referred to the 356 A as the T1. The 356 A became available as a coupe, cabriolet and a Speedster. Buyers had the choice between a 1,300cc and a 1,600cc engine and later the Super version. A second revision of the 356 A was introduced early in 1957. It became known as the Type 2 (or T2). Late 1958 the Speedster was replaced by the Convertible D which was now build by coachbuilder Drauz. Late 1959 the 356 A was replaced by the 356 B. The 356 remained in production through until 1965 and evolved into one of the most successful sports cars ever built.

Details: Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale an Australian delivered 1958 Land Rover Series 1 109 Truck Cab Utility. There is a British Motors Industry Heritage Trust certificate on file which confirms that this particular example was dispatched as a CKD (complete knock down) car from the factory on 27th March 1958. Its destination was Regent Motors Limited in Melbourne and it was assembled by the Pressed Metals Corporation Limited in Sydney. The certificate also confirms this car was delivered with a 2 litre petrol engine. The current owner acquired this Land Rover in April 2019 through the Series One Shop in Newry, Victoria. The car belonged to a Victorian property owner and was described as matching numbers car with a genuine 50, 600 miles, original wiring and lights, no holes drilled in the bulkhead, no rust anywhere, engine runs beautifully without any tap or click and pulls strongly up hill and down dale, gearbox, transfer case and 4WD selector all work perfect, body work in excellent condition, rare 109 rear power take-off fitted with the correct selector, drive shafts and centre bearing. At that time the car was registered in Victoria with the registration ORR 302. There are photos on file of the Land Rover when the current owner acquired it and these clearly show this is a car that has been looked after by its previous owner. The current owner is very fussy and when he acquired the car there were a few small things he did not like. In particular, there was a nasty scrape on the passenger side of the car, probably caused by a farm gate and at some stage indicators were added on the front guards, similar to what one would see on a Land Rover Series 2. What started out as a simple job to tidy up a few things quickly resulted in a far more comprehensive one. He soon decided to restore the car! The tray, doors, floor, roof, front guards and front of the car were all removed from the chassis and prepared for a repaint. The current owner was fortunate enough to have access to a spray booth through his business and everything was repainted in dove grey. There are photos on file of the work done. At the same time the car was given a complete mechanical overhaul. The engine, gearbox, transfer case, differential, radiator and the starter motor were all reconditioned. The following new components were sourced and installed: a water pump, shock absorbers, suspension bushes, exhaust, brakes and brake lines. The owner also installed a new wiring loom and a new set of tyres were fitted Inside the cabin, a set of new Exmoor seats were fitted, the steering wheel was refurbished, a new steering switch for the indicators was installed and other miscellaneous items were either refurbished or replaced. Where possible, all genuine Land Rover parts were used for the restoration. The project was completed in mid-2022 and the car was subsequently registered in Queensland. The end result is simply magnificent. This Land Rover presents essentially like the day it was assembled by the Pressed Metals Corporation Limited in Sydney back in 1958! This Land Rover can be configured in different ways as it is truly a multifunctional vehicle. It can be used as shown in the photos with a steel truck cab style roof over the cabin and the open tray. There is a canvas canopy to cover the tray. The truck cab style roof can be removed and a full length canvas roof, which expands all the way from the front wind screen to the rear of the tray, can be fitted giving it that safari look. There is also a separate windscreen with the car which, when installed, can be folded down over the bonnet. As we mentioned before, the presentation of this Land Rover is simply magnificent. It would not be out of place in a Land Rover showroom today next to its more modern brothers and sisters. Today the odometer reads 61, 764 miles. This Land Rover certainly makes an impression when you walk up to it. The body work is in excellent condition and the paint work, which is only three years old, presents exceptionally well. The external trim is minimalistic and it all presents similarly well. The windows are a combination of glass and Perspex. The glass is all in good condition, though the Perspex windows are showing some scratches and sign of wear. The steel wheels are in excellent condition with no sign of any curb rash or damage. They are shod with Dunlop SP Road Gripper tyres, size 7. 50R16 and they are date stamped 4019 (week 40, 2019). Not surprisingly, the tyres are in excellent condition as the car has been used sparingly since it was restored. Inside the cabin everything looks fresh. As one would expect in a Land Rover it is all very basic. The seats are new and firm. Aftermarket seat belts have been fitted for safety and there are new mats on the floor. The instruments are clear and appear to be in good working order. The steering wheel has been refurbished and is in excellent condition. For our photo shoot we fitted the short canvas top on the car and that can be done with relative ease. It is a good fit and the canvas is in very good condition. The long canvas cover is also in good condition with just some minor discolouration. We did notice a small tear (approx 1cm) on the rear flap. The rear tray has new rubber mats to protect the paint. The car starts easily, though it does require the use of the choke when the engine is cold. The engine settles into a smooth idle fairly quickly but performs best when it has warmed up. The gearbox has synchro on 2nd, 3rd and 4th gear when shifting up, and only 4th and 3rd on the down shift. As a result, this Land Rover is for real drivers, but you soon get the hang of it. Out on the road this Land Rover just goes about its business. The engine revs freely and performs well. The gearbox, whilst maybe a little bit agricultural, does what it is supposed to do and once you get the hang of it the gear changes are relatively smooth. The gearbox sound good and there is no wining from the gears. We decided against going off-road on our test drive, but we did test the four-wheel drive system and it works flawlessly. The transfer case engages and disengages the four-wheel drive system exactly the way it should. This car is fitted with a PTO at the rear, which we understand to be in working condition. Accompanying the car is a short canvas cover, a long canvas cover, a second wind screen (which you need when you fit the long canvas cover on the car), all the hardware needed, both for the short canvas cover and the long canvas cover and a Land Rover Series 1 instruction manual. There is also a spare wheel mounted on the bonnet, which can be easily removed. These Land Rovers are obviously very functional for their intended purpose, but like micro cars they are now highly collectable classic cars. This one is fabulous! Highlights: - Recently refurbished Australian delivered late series Land Rover Series 1 109 Truck Cab Utility. - Comes with truck cab, short canvas cover and long canvas cover. - Recent restoration. - Very well presented. - Ready to be used and enjoyed. Price: $89, 950 Background: One of the fundamental principles of economics is the law of supply and demand. During World War II the US army had a need for a light 4WD vehicle capable of carrying troops as well as cargo. And so the Jeep was born. From 1941 through until 1945 Willys and Ford were the major supplier of Jeeps, in various configurations, to the US military and their allies. The history of the Rover Company dates back to the mid 1800s when it was selling sewing machines and then safety tricycles and bicycles. By the 1930s, it had evolved into a car company but was hit badly by the Great Depression. In common with many British industrial companies during World War II, its factories were turned over to the war effort and produced engines for tanks and aircraft. By 1945 and the end of World War II, Rover found itself with two excellent factories and a highly skilled workforce. It was looking at restarting car production and had ambitious plans to build 20, 000 cars per year. A new model, the M-Type was dropped when it became clear that it would be unsuitable for export and that tooling costs would be excessive. Plans to produce 15, 000 of the pre-war designs per year were quickly quashed by the Government which refused to allocate steel for more than 1, 100 cars per year. This serious shortfall led Rover to realise that a stopgap solution was required until sufficientsteel was available. The stopgap also had to have export potential. Just to make things difficult, Rover had never exported any vehicles before! Maurice Wilks, Rovers head of design, had been using ex-army Jeeps on his farm and realising that there was no real alternative decided that Rover would provide one. The first prototype Land Rover, developed in late 1946, was actually built on Jeep chassis. The bodywork was made of an aluminium alloy called Birmabright. Using similar dimensions to the World War II Jeep, the first Land Rovers had an 80 wheelbase. The new Land Rover was first unveiled at the Amsterdam Motor Show on the 30th April 1948. It featured a steel box section chassis with an aluminium body and was powered by a 1. 6 litre, 4-cylinder Rover engine from the P3 Rover car range developing around 50 hp. The gearbox was four speed Rover mated to a two-speed transfer box thus allowing 4WD operation. A PTO (power take off) was also fitted to enable the Land Rover to be used as a stationary power unit. Rover didnt know what to expect but they need not have worried. The Land Rover was an outstanding success and the order books quickly overflowed. A legend was born! This humble Land Rover is in many ways the pioneer of the ubiquitous SUVs seen on our roads today.

1958 Jaguar XK150 Drophead Coupe