Land Rover Series 1

The legendary Series I started the whole Land Rover story. Its boxy looks survive to this day thanks to the Defender, so it’s instantly recognisable as a result. Take one look at our pictures, though, and you’ll immediately see how small it is. It’s dwarfed by the Defender 90, which is 544mm longer and 270mm wider than its famous ancestor.

The Series I was conceived in the late Forties, when Rover had a reputation for luxury saloons. Post-war steel shortages forced bosses to broaden their horizons, and their answer was the Land Rover. It was intended as a stop-gap measure to keep factories busy until they could get back to building road cars – its angular bodywork was made of aluminium, which was easy to get hold of. However, demand for the new off-roader took off, and it wasn’t long before it was outselling the company’s four-doors.

Rover got its inspiration from the American military Jeep, and the original Series I even shared its wheelbase with the US legend. That doesn’t make for the most spacious cabin, though, and if you open the Series I’s flimsy door – by reaching through a canvas flap to the lever inside – you’re greeted by a cramped interior. Three seats are squeezed across the front, and the cabin is light on creature comforts. The heavy steering also takes some getting used to due to its vague responses – but off-road, the Series I begins to make sense.

While it has a small 1.6-litre petrol engine, the permanent four-wheel drive ensures it remains unbeatable over rugged terrain. Superb traction and a high ground clearance make a mockery of muddy paths and water troughs, while the torquey powerplant propels it up the steepest slopes.

The brakes need a hefty shove before you feel any response and the low-geared steering demands constant attention, but the wonderfully mechanical feel of the four-speed box makes the original Land Rover great fun off-road. There’s no synchromesh on first and second or reverse, but once you’re used to the long throws between ratios it’s more precise than many modern set-ups.

With a canvas hood and single windscreen wiper, the Series I has an honesty anyone who’s driven a modern Defender will recognise. Its utilitarian feel only adds to its appeal – so, can the charm of the oldest Land Rover of them all show its younger stablemates the way to go?

For an in-depth buyer's guide on the Land Rover Series 1 from Classic and Performance Car click here...