The Second World War proved, among other things, the value of a basic 4-wheel drive vehicle of rugged construction. The success of the American Jeep inspired the Wilkes' brothers Maurice and Spencer, who ran the Rover Car Company, that a British version was likely to be well received. Launched in 1948, customers were never in short supply for their creation, the Land Rover, although there were some unexpected owners for such a sparse and utilitarian car, including King George VI and Winston Churchill. Once the British Army embraced it as their vehicle of choice, the Land Rover's place in motoring's Hall of Fame was secured. Since those days, the company has gone on to invent the concept of the luxury 4x4 with the launch of the Range Rover in 1970, and has added further to the distinguished stable with the Discovery and the Freelander. The Land Rover has truly conquered the globe - find out how inside...

The 60th anniversary of Land Rover occurs in 2008. The original Series 1 Land Rover was unveiled in 1948 and the utilitarian Defender models are still instantly recognisable as relatives of the original. The Land Rover range has also expanded over the years to elevate the Solihull marque to a premium brand in the automotive market place, the latest Range Rover models providing palatial luxury while still providing unbeatable off-road performance. This beautifully produced book tells the full story of all Land Rover models through a wealth of stunning color images, many previously unpublished.

Sunday Times Bestseller As quintessentially British as a plate of fish and chips or a British Bulldog, the boxy, utilitarian Land Rover Defender has become an iconic part of what it is to be British.

Little Book of Land Rover takes a trip down memory lane and looks at the models that drove their way into the nation's heart. This hardback book celebrates one of the most iconic motoring brands in the world, which celebrated its sixtieth anniversary in 2008.