Land Rover Group
Encyclopedia
Land Rover Group was a division of British Leyland (BL) and later the Rover Group
that was in existence between 1981 and 1987. LRG brought British Leyland's light commercial vehicle
production under one management, consisting of the Land Rover
utility 4x4 range, the Range Rover
luxury 4x4 and the former Leyland Sherpa
van
range (re-branded Freight Rover
to match the other group members in 1984). LRG operated two factories in the Birmingham
area- the Land Rover plant
at Solihull
and the Freight Rover plant at Washwood Heath
.
seats and air conditioning
. Throughout the mid 1980s new engines were added to the Land Rover lineup, including more powerful V8 petrol engines and a turbodiesel
model.
The Sherpa van was given an immediate facelift in 1981, creating the 'K2' series, which was only available for a few years before the Freight Rover business was expanded to a two-model range. The original narrow-body Sherpa
became the Freight Rover 200-series, whilst a new wider-bodied model with a heavier payload was introduced in 1984 called the Freight Rover 300-series
. The 300-series came in a range of wheelbases and body styles. The 300-series also brought with it a new look for the Freight Rover products with square headlights and a new grille which was also applied to the 200 Series (although the smaller model retained its round lights). The new model used adapted versions of the new 2.5-litre diesel engine from Land Rover, but the 200-series retained the venerable 1.8-litre B-Series diesel
, although from 1985 the V8 petrol engine and gearbox combination from the Land Rover range was available as a high-power option. A logical new addition to the Freight Rover range was a 4x4 version of the 200-series van using Land Rover axles and transmission units. This model was only available as a special order to fleet and military buyers- whilst popular with utility companies and contractors it was never offered for general sale because it risked taking sales from the Land Rover One Ten and 127.
in preparation for privatisation. This saw LRG, Leyland Trucks and Leyland Bus re-united into the Land Rover Leyland Group, but with each division remaining operationally separate.
This was a short-lived arrangement. In 1986 Leyland Bus became a private company, the subject of a management buy-out, later being acquired by Volvo
. In 1987 the Leyland Trucks division and the Freight Rover van making interests merged with the Dutch DAF Trucks
company to form DAF NV
, with Leyland DAF
as a UK-based manufacturing and sales division. DAF NV was later floated on the Dutch stock exchange. Land Rover
was retained by the Rover Group
and the latter was sold to British Aerospace
in 1988.
Range Rover
Freight Rover
Rover Group
The Rover Group plc was the name given in 1986 to the British state-owned vehicle manufacturer previously known as British Leyland or BL. Owned by British Aerospace from 1988 to 1994, when it was sold to BMW, the Group was broken up in 2000 with the Rover and MG marques being acquired by the MG...
that was in existence between 1981 and 1987. LRG brought British Leyland's light commercial vehicle
Commercial vehicle
A commercial vehicle is a type of motor vehicle that may be used for transporting goods or passengers. The European Union defines "commercial motor vehicle" as any motorised road vehicle, which by its type of construction and equipment is designed for, and capable of transporting, whether for...
production under one management, consisting of the Land Rover
Land Rover
Land Rover is a British car manufacturer with its headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire, United Kingdom which specialises in four-wheel-drive vehicles. It is owned by the Indian company Tata Motors, forming part of their Jaguar Land Rover group...
utility 4x4 range, the Range Rover
Range Rover
The Range Rover is a large luxury four-wheel drive sport utility vehicle produced by British car maker Land Rover. The model, launched in 1970, is now in its third generation...
luxury 4x4 and the former Leyland Sherpa
LDV Pilot
The LDV Pilot is a panel van that was produced by LDV Limited from 1997 until 2006, and closely based on preceding models dating back to 1974 ....
van
Van
A van is a kind of vehicle used for transporting goods or groups of people.In British English usage, it can be either specially designed or based on a saloon or sedan car, the latter type often including derivatives with open backs...
range (re-branded Freight Rover
Freight Rover
Freight Rover was a British commercial vehicle manufacturer based in Birmingham, England, United Kingdom.-History:The company was created as a division of the Land Rover Group of British Leyland in 1981, creating a new single brand for BL's panel van business.Under later company organisation...
to match the other group members in 1984). LRG operated two factories in the Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
area- the Land Rover plant
Solihull plant
The Solihull plant is a car manufacturing factory in Lode Lane, Solihull, UK, now owned by Land Rover.The plant currently produces the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Land Rover Discovery and Land Rover Defender vehicles.-History:...
at Solihull
Solihull
Solihull is a town in the West Midlands of England with a population of 94,753. It is a part of the West Midlands conurbation and is located 9 miles southeast of Birmingham city centre...
and the Freight Rover plant at Washwood Heath
Washwood Heath
Washwood Heath is a ward in Birmingham, within the formal district of Hodge Hill, roughly two miles north-east of Birmingham city centre, England...
.
Formation
The group was formed to produce a more logical management structure within the BL group - prior to the creation of LRG the Land Rover business was part of the Jaguar Rover Triumph or specialist division, makers of luxury cars, whilst the Sherpa van was part of the Leyland Truck & Bus division and the only light commercial product in a range otherwise made up of full-size commercial vehicles.Development
The Land Rover part of the group saw the most product development in an (ultimately successful) attempt to turn around a severe decline in Land Rover sales in the early 1980s (a 25% fall between 1980 and 1981 alone). A modernised and improved Land Rover model range was launched in stages between 1983 and 1985 (the Ninety/One Ten/127 range, with new engines, transmissions, suspension and interiors. The Range Rover was gradually pushed up-market into the luxury car sector with a facelift and with more powerful engines, an automatic gearbox, 5 doors and new interior features such as leatherLeather
Leather is a durable and flexible material created via the tanning of putrescible animal rawhide and skin, primarily cattlehide. It can be produced through different manufacturing processes, ranging from cottage industry to heavy industry.-Forms:...
seats and air conditioning
Air conditioning
An air conditioner is a home appliance, system, or mechanism designed to dehumidify and extract heat from an area. The cooling is done using a simple refrigeration cycle...
. Throughout the mid 1980s new engines were added to the Land Rover lineup, including more powerful V8 petrol engines and a turbodiesel
Turbodiesel
Turbodiesel refers to any diesel engine with a turbocharger. Turbocharging is the norm rather than the exception in modern car and truck diesel engines...
model.
The Sherpa van was given an immediate facelift in 1981, creating the 'K2' series, which was only available for a few years before the Freight Rover business was expanded to a two-model range. The original narrow-body Sherpa
LDV Pilot
The LDV Pilot is a panel van that was produced by LDV Limited from 1997 until 2006, and closely based on preceding models dating back to 1974 ....
became the Freight Rover 200-series, whilst a new wider-bodied model with a heavier payload was introduced in 1984 called the Freight Rover 300-series
LDV Convoy
The LDV Convoy is a panel van that was manufactured by LDV Limited between 1997 and 2006.The Convoy was a development of the Leyland DAF 400 Series, which in turn was based on the Freight Rover 300 Series...
. The 300-series came in a range of wheelbases and body styles. The 300-series also brought with it a new look for the Freight Rover products with square headlights and a new grille which was also applied to the 200 Series (although the smaller model retained its round lights). The new model used adapted versions of the new 2.5-litre diesel engine from Land Rover, but the 200-series retained the venerable 1.8-litre B-Series diesel
BMC B-Series engine
The BMC B-series was a straight-4 internal combustion engine family, mostly used in motor cars, created by British company Austin Motor Company. The pre-cursor of the "B" series engine was a 1200 cc OHV engine which was used in the 1947 Austin A40 Devon. This A40 Devon engine was based on a...
, although from 1985 the V8 petrol engine and gearbox combination from the Land Rover range was available as a high-power option. A logical new addition to the Freight Rover range was a 4x4 version of the 200-series van using Land Rover axles and transmission units. This model was only available as a special order to fleet and military buyers- whilst popular with utility companies and contractors it was never offered for general sale because it risked taking sales from the Land Rover One Ten and 127.
Merger and break-up
In 1986 British Leyland was renamed the Rover GroupRover Group
The Rover Group plc was the name given in 1986 to the British state-owned vehicle manufacturer previously known as British Leyland or BL. Owned by British Aerospace from 1988 to 1994, when it was sold to BMW, the Group was broken up in 2000 with the Rover and MG marques being acquired by the MG...
in preparation for privatisation. This saw LRG, Leyland Trucks and Leyland Bus re-united into the Land Rover Leyland Group, but with each division remaining operationally separate.
This was a short-lived arrangement. In 1986 Leyland Bus became a private company, the subject of a management buy-out, later being acquired by Volvo
Volvo
AB Volvo is a Swedish builder of commercial vehicles, including trucks, buses and construction equipment. Volvo also supplies marine and industrial drive systems, aerospace components and financial services...
. In 1987 the Leyland Trucks division and the Freight Rover van making interests merged with the Dutch DAF Trucks
DAF Trucks
DAF Trucks NV is a Dutch truck manufacturing company and a division of PACCAR. Its headquarters and main plant are in Eindhoven. Cabs and axle assemblies are produced at its Westerlo plant in Belgium...
company to form DAF NV
DAF NV
DAF NV was a commercial vehicle manufacturing company based in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. In 1993 DAF NV became insolvent.-History:...
, with Leyland DAF
Leyland DAF
Leyland DAF was a commercial vehicle manufacturing company based in the United Kingdom, and a division of DAF NV. In 1993 DAF NV became insolvent and Leyland DAF went into receivership.-History:...
as a UK-based manufacturing and sales division. DAF NV was later floated on the Dutch stock exchange. Land Rover
Land Rover
Land Rover is a British car manufacturer with its headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire, United Kingdom which specialises in four-wheel-drive vehicles. It is owned by the Indian company Tata Motors, forming part of their Jaguar Land Rover group...
was retained by the Rover Group
Rover Group
The Rover Group plc was the name given in 1986 to the British state-owned vehicle manufacturer previously known as British Leyland or BL. Owned by British Aerospace from 1988 to 1994, when it was sold to BMW, the Group was broken up in 2000 with the Rover and MG marques being acquired by the MG...
and the latter was sold to British Aerospace
British Aerospace
British Aerospace plc was a UK aircraft, munitions and defence-systems manufacturer. Its head office was in the Warwick House in the Farnborough Aerospace Centre in Farnborough, Hampshire...
in 1988.
Products
Land Rover- Land Rover Series III (1981—1985)
- Land Rover Ninety/One Ten/127 (1983—1987)
Range Rover
- Range Rover (1981—1987)
Freight Rover
- Leyland Sherpa (1981—1982)
- Leyland Sherpa K2 (1982—1984)
- Freight Rover 200 (1984—1987)
- Freight Rover 300 (1984—1987)