With such a rich heritage stretching back nearly 70 years, all the way to 1948, it’s no surprise that the Land Rover has become a staple on the big screen. The name is as iconic as the designs. This is our look at Land Rovers in the movies, starting with….
Get Carter
In 1971, Michael Caine was at the top of his game – and he proved it as vicious gangster Jack Carter. Mike Hodge’s Get Carter sees Caine hunting for the killer of his brother Frank, against the back-drop of a bleak, corrupt Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. The main villain of the piece is crime boss Cyril Kinnear, whose henchmen chase Carter in a thoroughly intimidating 1958 Land Rover 109 Series II Station Wagon.
Tomb Raider
A British car (now owned by an Indian company) for a British heroine (played by an American actress). Based on the hit video game series, 2001’s Tomb Raider features two Land Rovers, albeit in minor roles. First, the Land Rover Range Rover Series II made a cameo before coming to an explosive end. This was followed by Lara Croft’s modified Land Rover Defender 110. Perfect for bouncing across the globe in search of treasure.
The Wild Geese
The Wild Geese is probably one of the best ensemble films to come out of Hollywood. This boys’ own adventure sees Roger Moore, Richard Burton, Stewart Granger and Richard Harris play ageing mercenaries who team-up to spring an African politician from incarceration. But we think the real stars of the show are the three Land Rovers that feature in the film. Both the Land Rover 88 Series IIa and 1962 Land Rover 109 Series IIa appear in the background of the movie, while the ‘Geese’ ride the now familiar 1958 109 Series II.
The Italian Job
Another Michael Caine classic, The Italian Job is the quintessential British comic crime caper. Following Charlie Croker’s release from prison, he’s convinced to steal gold bullion from the Italians. And what better vehicle to use than the durable 1965 Land Rover 109 Series IIa? The 4×4 was heavily modified for use in the film, including blacking (or greening) out the rear windows, adding a tow bar and installing benches in the back, instead of the usual seats. Thankfully Caine didn’t ‘blow the bloody doors off’ of this beauty. A 1993 Land Rover Defender 110 also appeared in the remake, but the less said about that film the better.
Skyfall
Land Rovers have appeared in multiple Bond films – and we’ll be sure to look at those in part two – but in Skyfall alone there are an incredible six Land Rovers spotted throughout the movie. Most of these are background cameos like the 2011 Land Rover Freelander 2, Discovery TDV6 HSE Series IV, and the Defender 110 Station Wagon. But special mention must be given to the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque which spirits Bond to the new MI6 building after the original is blown up, and the Land Rover Defender 100 Crew Cab driven by Bond’s partner Eve through the bustling streets of Turkey in the pre-credits sequence.
We’ve only just begun to scrape the surface of these amazing vehicles and their film star career. If you need Land Rover spares to make your model look like a movie star, check out our website or contact us today on 01458 834930 and find out how we can help.