1953: Land-Rover introduced a 107" chassis for bigger utility vehicles, but this was unsuitable for a LWB station wagon which would have a second row of seats with a lower floor for their occupants.

1955: Prototype long wheel base, i.e. 107", station wagon chassis were developed to give extra load carrying capacity. The trick was to make the chassis rise up later to clear the rear axle and to put the rear springs outboard of the chassis rails, an arrangement adopted for all long-wheel base Land-Rovers from the Series-II era onward.

1956 model year: The 107" station wagon was released.

1957 model year (late 1956): Other Land-Rovers' wheel-bases grew by 2" to 88" and 109" (to allow the new 2-litre diesel to be fitted), but the station-wagon stayed at 107". The 107 station wagon did share a new bulkhead inner pressing and steel grille panel. The B-pillar was tidied up a bit (below).

Above: With 1990's wheels

Above: With a Holden 202 motor

Above: 1958 station wagon used on the 1966 W-E crossing.

Thanks to Michael Bishop and Anthony Maeder.