With improved body styling and larger engines, the Land Rover was re-launched as the Series II in 1958. What had previously been known simply as the "Land Rover" was forever renamed as the "Series I Land Rover", hundreds of which still survive to this day. The majority of Land Rover’s pre-production vehicles built for testing purposes and experimental exercises in body design were painted sage green, as previously used in World War II aeroplane cockpits. They exist as one of the oldest surviving Land Rover models in the world.

The Series II
To stay ahead of the motoring game, the original Land Rover needed an update. This came about in 1958 when the Land Rover Series II was launched with new engine options and body styling. The Series II sold well, with 28,000 being sold in its first full year, and 34,000 the year after.

 

The Series IIa

Although the change in diesel option was the only significant change in the Series II’s engine, it was renamed the IIa.

Also, Land Rover's first 12-seat station wagon was introduced in 1962. Twelve adults would have been a tight squeeze! - but it allowed the vehicle to be classed as a bus and therefore avoid purchase tax.

The Series III

Come the late 1960s, as with the Series I a decade earlier, it was clear that significant changes were required if Land Rover was to keep its cutting edge.

Hence in 1971, the Series III replaced the Series IIa. In 1968, Rover had become part of the government-owned British Leyland Motor Corporation (B.L.M.C.). Funds were limited, so in 1971, when the Series IIa was replaced by the Series III it was an evolution of the Series IIa design, rather than a complete redesign.

Although there were few external changes, the Series III had a very different looking interior that was very much in keeping with early 1970s trends in automotive interior design, both in safety and the use of more advanced materials. These alterations culminated in 1982 with the introduction of the 'County' spec. Station Wagon Land Rovers with all-new cloth seats, tinted glass, soundproofing kits, and other similarly ‘temperate’ options were designed to appeal to the “leisure user”.

The Series III is the most common Land Rover marque, with 440,000 of the type built from 1971 to 1985. The 1,000,000th Land Rover rolled off the production line in 1976, during the Series III production run from 1971 until 1985.