Even after ownership of Land Rover has passed through German, American, and into Indian hands; even with the plans to move some manufacturing to China to save money, the car itself remains essentially British.
To clarify one point early on: Land Rover here means the proper breed, including the Discovery at a pinch, but excluding the Range Rover and the Freelander – they aren’t ugly enough to qualify.
The essential Britishness of the vehicle designed in Anglesey and made in Birmingham and then Merseyside remains, perhaps even for versions made for many years in overseas plants. Cynics might say this is because some models have over time earned a reputation for breaking down. Enthusiasts would point to the Bulldog face of the car; to the robust simplicity of its engineering until recent times, making it a frequent choice for armed forces globally; and to its endurance.
According to a bloke in the pub (so it must be true) 98 per cent of those built since 1958 are still operating; another claim is that three quarters of all Land Rovers produced since the first rolled off the line in 1948 are still running. It’s easy to believe both assertions.
The Land Rover adorns many parts of our national life. Of the more than 4 million made about half seem to live on farms, often with that rear cover like a mini-Nissen Hut; they carry the landed gentry to shoots in the Highlands ; transport troops; haul boats from sea and lake; are de rigueur for mountain rescue teams; and soft-tops look cool for minted students. It’s an institution.
More British Institutions
Afternoon Tea
Allotments
April Fools Day
Big Ben
Binge Drinking
Black Cabs
Bonfire Night
British Sense of Humour
Brown Windsor Soup
Burns Night
Cadburys
Castles
Changing the Guard
City of London
Coronation Street
Cowes Week
Cricket
Crufts
Dad’s Army
E-Type Jag
Eccentricity
English Country Garden
Fish and Chips
Fish Fingers
Fox Hunting
Full English Breakfast
Gin and Tonic
Glastonbury
Glorious Goodwood
Grand National
Grouse Shooting
Harrods
Highland Games
Hogmanay
James Bond
John Bull
King Arthur
Land Rover
Lloyds of London
London to Brighton Veteran Car Rally
Marks and Spencer
Monty Python
Morecambe and Wise
Old School Tie
Oxbridge
Panto
Picnics
Pimms
Point-to-Point
Punch and Judy
Queueing
Real Ale
Red Arrows
Red Telephone Boxes
Remembrance Poppies
Robin Hood
Rolls Royce
Royal Ascot
Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
Savile Row Suits
School Discos
School Sports Day
Seaside Piers
Speakers’ Corner
Stag Nights
Stiff Upper Lip
Strawberries and Cream
Street Markets
Summer Festivals
Sunday Roasts
The Archers
The BBC
The Beano
The Boat Race
The Brass Band
The British Bobby
The Bulldog
The Church of England
The Cup Final
The Curry House
The English Rose
The Garden Shed
The Honours System
The Kilt
The Last Night at the Proms
The London Bus
The Mini
The National Trust
The NHS
The Oak
The Pub
The Queen’s Speech
The Rolling Stones
The Royal Christmas Message
The Spitfire
The V Sign
The Village Fete
The Weather
Travelling Fairs
Trooping the Colour
Village Greens
Wedgwood
Wellington Boots
Wimbledon
Wine Gums
Yeomen of the Guard
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