The Land Rover was introduced in 1948 by the Rover car company as a utilitarian vehicle which could be widely exported and sold abroad to earn vital foreign currency for the UK in the difficult period following the Second World War. Taking inspiration from the WW2 Willys Jeep, it used a steel box-section chassis and aluminium alloy body panels (in response to the post-war metal shortage) and could be said to be the first mass-produced civilian four-wheel drive vehicle with doors, providing the ability to cover rough terrain under all conditions. The first iteration evolved over time, through Series 1, 2 and 3 variants, production ending in 1985 when superseded by the Land Rover Ninety & One Ten and later Defender models.

The Series 1 was at first only available on a short, 80-inch wheelbase chassis, with a 1600 cc motor and simple 4-speed gearbox with a supplemental 2-speed transfer box providing four-wheel drive. Within a couple of years, this had been replaced by a more conventional 4WD system and 1952 saw the introduction of a more powerful 2.0-litre engine. The original 80-inch wheelbase model was replaced by two enlarged options - 86-inch and a long 107-inch wheelbase version - for the 1954 model year, both of which were enlarged again in mid-1956 to 88 and 109 inches respectively. Also that year, a 2.0 litre diesel engine option was offered. The Series 1 models remained in production until 1958, when replaced by the second Series.

The Series 1, short wheelbase, Land Rover offered here was first registered in the UK in 1953 and has the initial, smaller 1.6 litre power unit. It made its way to Jersey just a couple of years later, being re-registered in June 1956, where it has remained ever since. Purchased by Le Riche Auto some years ago as a restoration project, progress has not been made due to other work pressures and the vehicle is now up for sale for an enthusiast to take forward.