Goodwood Festival of Speed 2018: celebrating Land Rover's 70th birthday

A fleet of cars from Land Rover's history took to the hill at Goodwood to celebrate the brand's 70th birthday

Tom Morgan - Autocar deputy digital editor

by Tom Morgan-Freelander

12 July 2018

Follow @tommorgan3

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This year’s Festival of Speed marks the 70th anniversary of Land Rover.

The marque celebrated in style with a parade of 70 historical models heading up Goodwood’s iconic hill climb.

Celebrations officially begain in April with a special live-streamed event, and will culminate in the new Defender being revealed next year, following years of speculation and sightings of prototypes.

The parade included cars restored by Land Rover's Classics division, including a Land Rover launch car that was rescued from a Welsh hillside last year. It was joined by the original 1947 Land Rover prototype, the classic Range Rover, and the current range of Land Rover cars.
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Centre Steer prototype

The Land Rover begain life as a Willys Jeep that had been fitted with a Rover engine and gearbox. It proved the mechanics worked, and was followed up by a prototype with a distinctive central steering column known as the "centre steer". It was deemed too complex for production, so the idea was shelved while designers made changes to what would become HUE166.
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Land Rover HUE 166

The most famous number plate in Land Rover history, HUE 166 was the first car to roll out of the factory in 1948. Originally conceived as a short-term fix to help a struggling Rover secure overseas sales, the car became a long-lasting symbol of the company's off-road credentials.
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1948 Land Rover Series 1 80in

Autocar's own Steve Cropley joined the parade as a passenger in JLR chief engineer Nick Rogers’ 1948 Series 1 80in model. Classic bespoke restorations project leader Susan Tonks was at the wheel.
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Land Rover Series 1

The procession included a total of 70 vehicles, with several Series 1 models at the front being followed by newer Series II and Series III cars as well as Defenders, four generations of Range Rover, and five generations of Discovery.
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Land Rover fire engines

The Land Rover was adapted for many situations, including as a fully functional fire engine, complete with hose reels, stand pipes and all the equipment needed to combat flames.
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Land Rover Tow truck

The Land Rover is no stranger to towing, but this particular model has been adapted into a tow truck, complete with hand-cranked winch.
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the 2018 Goodwood Festival of Speed Sculpture

The hill climb route took the procession past Goodwood house, and this year's Festival of Speed sculpture, designed (as ever) by British artist Gerry Judah.

This year's sculpture stands taller than Nelson's column, and celebrates Porsche - who is coincidentally also celebrating a 70th anniversary.
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BP fire engine

All generations of Land Rover have seen use as first responder vehicles. This model was adapted to fight fires for petrol station BP, with a rear hose and water pump.
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Land Rover search and rescue

The Severn Area Rescue Association used this modified vehicle as a go-anywhere ambulance, with snorkel, roof rack and blue lights to assist with rescue operations.
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Defender motor home

One of the more unusual conversions taking part in the procession was this Defender-based motorhome. Some models were built with de-mountable cabins so the car could continue to be used for other purposes when an overnight stay wasn't required.
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Trans-Americas expedition Land Rover

The British Trans-Americas expedition left Anchorage in Alaska on the 3rd of December 1971, and reached the southern-most tip of South America on the 10th of June, 1972. This standard Range Rover, which wasn't strengthened in any way, was one of two that survived the 18,000 mile journey.
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TARC2 Range Rover

The TARC2 six-wheeled fire engine is built around a Range Rover, and replaced the Land Rover Series II- and III-based TARC1. Most components were provided by Land Rover and converted by a third party, with both 4- and 6-wheel drive variants built over its lifetime.
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The last Defenders - for now

Several Defenders took their place in the procession, with Land Rover's current fleet taking up the rear. The last Defender rolled off the Solihul production line in January 2016, making it the 2,016,933rd in existence.
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One Millionth Discovery

There were plenty of celebrity cars joining the procession, including the one millionth Discovery to roll off the line. It went on a 50-day, 8000-mile journey across 13 countries in 2012, travelling from Birmingham to Beijing in an effort to raise a million pounds for the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Scroll through to see more pictures from the parade.
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