O.K. Not a great topic for POR, but the expertise on Land Rovers on this list is amazing. I am writing my senior thesis on Ford Motor Company (the Land Rover North America division). I figured it was going to suck spending time writing a report either way, so might as well do it on a company that I liked.

I am looking for a book that covers the history of Land Rovers entry to the U.S. along with some general information about the companies beginning. The prof says no internet information is acceptable???, so I am looking for a book to buy on the Internet (only one very small bookstore in Durango). Thanks for the help in advance. I will delete this post in a few days. I seem to find books on the Internet, but the description is pretty poor.

Way

fifty years of the best 4x4xfar comes to mind off the top of my head as a good book

There is some VERY interesting history concerning LR from a business perspective, however most of it is not N.A. related.

What exactly are you looking for (major, thesis, time frame, etc)

You could write a very interesting report on land rover from a business history or microeconomic history or how government control effects business, not to mention marketing.

As far as how they entered the US market I have read little that covers it. US/Canadain spec trucks were coming in circa 49 via Rootes and there is some more detail (though very limited) in The Original Land Rover Series One.

As far as the RRNA re-entry in 1987 there is a lot of detail available, especially how the RR was tailored to the US market from all different perspectives (styling, emmissions, powertrain, comfort, features, and most importantly image)

Let me know if you need anything specific.

Ron

PS saw a couple LT230s on LRX (out of early RRs being parted)

Adam,try looking at Amazon, they have a lot of books there on LR's,

just did a very quick search and got a list of them:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/103-5692000-7084619

Jamie

Does all your research have to be on previously published materials? I really haven't seen much dedicated to LRNA, but I'll bet that you could get some killer phone interviews from folks at LRNA if you bug them and tell them what you are doing. Another resource would have to be Rovers North. They can usually get good reference materials when asked.

-John

Thanks for the help. I called around and ordered Land Rover the Unbeatable 4x4 and Land Rover The Complete Story (now carries a slightly different name in the new revision). Basically the report is a complete marketing, economic, finance, etc report. My major is Business Administration with a minor in Marketing and an emphasis in Photography. So for my paper, It will be more of a general overview of Ford Motor Companie's Land Rover North America Division. It is pretty short at the required 30 pages. Got to love the five week concentrated Senior Seminar over the summer!

Thanks again,

Way

Adam,

You need to talk to Jim Allen. He has written a lot of stuff about LR and knows his 4x4 history quite well. He has a couple of books about early 4x4's and also could more than likely provide some good contacts within the company.

Sounds like your thesis might be an interesting one for a change (you should read the one my wife just finished for her Masters in Education. YAWN).

Also might be a neat story for one of the mags.

Good luck! When do we get to proofread it????

M

PS Thanks for tossing up the pics.

Some topics to consider:

Origins of the company as far as post war restrictions and british economic policy which favored exports.

The CKD program and how it was used to address the economic nationalism in the post WWII british "empire"

How LR was the profit making division that kept its various parent companies afloat.

Bidding wars for the division, and british politics in the 1980s which thwarted a GM or Ford takeover.

Reentry into N.A.

LR intended market segment and how it has shifted over time. Especially interesting if you show it in different countries.

BWM takeover and sale to ford

Ron

Caheck out "The Land-Rover, 1948-1988" by James Taylor. It has some good info on the life of the Land Rover division and its growth into a semi-independent company. Also, there's a little bit of company-related history in "Range Rover, the Complete Story" by James Taylor and Nick Dimbleby.
Troy

Thanks,

I have the Range Rover Complete Story from another paper a while back. Although the history is brief I will take another look at it. Thanks for all of the help. I will make my best effort (information allowing) to address the topics that many of you have suggested. They sound like an interesting non typical automotive report subjects.

Way

Hey Adam,

I have a video on the history of the 4X4 and it focuses pretty much on the history of Land Rover. I can burn a copy and shoot it to you if you would like!!!

Larry H
www.roverclubhouse.com