Carroll, John Land Rover Series II/IIA

After ten years of production, the Solihull-built Land Rover had established itself as a useful off-road vehicle, popular with farmers, armies and anyone whose work took them far off the beaten track. Following a redesign, the Land Rover Series II was introduced in April 1958. It was available with two wheelbases, a choice of diesel or petrol engines and a variety of body styles, including pick-ups and soft tops, as well as short and long wheelbase station wagons, which were intended more for travel and passenger transport than for agricultural work. The main difference that made the new Land Rovers instantly recognisable was the radius pressed into the aluminium bodywork below the galvanised belt line. This significantly changed the appearance of the Land Rover and was a design feature that continued in the Land Rover Defender until 2016. The Series IIA was introduced in 1961, and during its production run until 1971, a number of improvements followed, mainly detail and cosmetic changes. The distinctive Station Wagon models unofficially known as Safari models became popular with overland travellers and were often seen in nature programmes on TV, in National Geographic magazine and in the hands of aid organisations, all of which promoted the Land Rover, which dominated the market, especially in export markets such as Australia and Africa.