{"product_id":"76lan188006-oxford-diecast-land-rover-series-1-88-post-office","title":"76LAN188006 Oxford Diecast Land Rover Series 1 88 Post Office","description":"\u003cp\u003e76LAN188006 Oxford Diecast Land Rover Series 1 88 Post Office Telephones Green.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eScale: 1:76\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRover chief engineer Maurice Wilks was inspired by his army-surplus Willys-Overland Jeep to create a workhorse vehicle for military and agricultural use - and for export abroad to kick-start both Rover's fortunes and the national economy after World War II. Prototypes were up and running by late 1947, and production of the Series I began at Solihull in summer 1948. It had permanent four-wheel-drive with low-ratio gearing and a locking freewheel mechanism, and a 50bhp, 1.6-litre engine from the Rover P3 saloon. It was fitted with lightweight body panels made from surplus aircraft-grade aluminium - steel was in short supply post-war - and came with army-surplus green paint. The Land Rover price started from just £450. Supply to the British forces started in 1949, the Land Rover replacing the Austin Champ and later, the rust-prone Austin Gipsy. Deliveries to organisations such as the Red Cross soon followed. The 100,000th Land Rover was made in autumn 1954 and by 1958, production ran to around 200,000.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDue to their capabilities they were a natural choice for use by the Post Office, where Land Rovers were used both in tows and rural communities.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Oxford Diecast","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56355476570492,"sku":"76LAN188006","price":9.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0943\/3048\/7164\/files\/prod_31639_5fb961ac-a299-4499-8bcb-d587f283d627.jpg?v=1786092155","url":"https:\/\/www.kernowmodelrailcentre.com\/products\/76lan188006-oxford-diecast-land-rover-series-1-88-post-office","provider":"Kernow Model Rail Centre","version":"1.0","type":"link"}