The original Land Rover Series 1 is a British born off road icon. Inspired by the success of the original Jeep flat fender and the Allied win of World War II, the Land Rover would go on to have its own legendary statues. Maurice Wilks, chief designer for the Rover Company built his initial prototype on a Jeep chassis and axles in 1947. Prior to official release in 1948, the Land Rover was a stand-alone vehicle using British ingenuity and skill to set it apart.

Now, nearly 70 years later, Jaguar Land Rover Classic, the official heritage and restoration department of the automaker, has announced plans to source 25 original Series 1 utilities and restore them to their original 1948 specifications. The 25 vehicles will be available for purchase and buyers will be able to select the base model they would like to start with and then watch the restoration from there. Jaguar Land Rover Classics will exclusively use official parts from their own catalog to preserve the authenticity of the restorations and ensure the vehicles are spot on to original specs.

The 1948 Land Rover Series 1 was designed to fill a void between the Jeep and a Tractor for farm and light industrial use. From 1948 to 1951, there was a single model. The vehicle featured an 80-inch wheel base, 1.6-liter gasoline engine and a 4-speed manual transmission. Much like the Jeep, the Land Rover offered few luxuries, all of which were additional add-ons such as doors and canvas or metal tops.

As the popularity of the vehicles grew, so did the models and options. 4-door models, stronger gasoline and diesel engines and longer wheel base are a few of the advancements the Land Rover vehicles saw. Jaguar Land Rover Classics intends to shine a light on the beginning of it all with the in-house restored vehicles. For more information, visit the official Land Rover Reborn website.