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The 4x4, or 4WD as it’s known in some countries, is an iconic innovation in and of itself, but which models are the true icons? It was the late 1800s when the first four-wheel-drive vehicle was developed as a traction engine and was toyed around with before really taking off. Here are our picks for the most iconic 4x4s from the 20th century, the influences of which can still be seen in today’s vehicles.
Spyker 60HP - 1903
Not the very first vehicle to use four-wheel-drive technology, but it was the first passenger car to implement it. The Spyker 60HP was designed for the Paris to Madrid race, but it never actually got to take part as it wasn’t finished on time. Designed in Amsterdam, you can still see this particular model at the Het Nationaal Automobielmuseum just outside The Hague, along with other classic Spyker models.
Marmon-Herrington - 1931
Providing a lot of early 4x4 vehicles for the military - mainly load carriers - Marmon was actually a producer of luxury cars until the economic situation forced them to turn their hand to trucks with the help of an ex-military engineer. Their trucks were deployed by the U.S. and Persian armies, with an all-wheel-drive vehicle produced only a year later.
Jeep - 1940
Possibly one of the most iconic 4x4s on this list, the original Jeep was developed for WWII but was actually based on the Bantam model. Jeep, known as Willys back then, dubbed this model the Willys Quad and followed it up with multiple different models with a similar look throughout the ’40s. This included a CJ (Civilian Jeep) model aimed at farmers.
Land Rover - 1948
Taking inspiration from his own ex-army Jeep, British designer Maurice Wilks wanted to create a 4WD drive vehicle for everyday drivers in the UK. The classic green colour wasn’t a stylistic choice - it was simply the only colour available using rationed steel from military surplus. The Land Rover was first made in Solihull after the Coventry factory was bombed in WWII.
Toyota Land Cruiser - 1951
Toyota was one of many manufacturers challenged to make a 4x4 vehicle for police use, however, they were beaten by Mitsubishi. After much tweaking and a trek up Mount Fuji - a climb never before achieved by a vehicle - the police then put in an order. In 1954, Willys trademarked the Jeep name and so Toyota had to rename their Toyota Jeep BJ to ‘Land Cruiser’.
Range Rover - 1970
Rover, wanting to create a more upmarket model of their famous Land Rover, ended up with something deemed worthy to be displayed in the Louvre. It took 26 prototypes to get it right, but once perfected it was a hit, delivering a more elegant 4x4 for the mass market. Since then, there have been multiple models, reproductions and evolutions.
Mitsubishi Forte - 1978
Not Mitsubishi’s first 4x4 - they originally created the knockdown Willys that beat Toyota - but certainly their most iconic and long-lasting design is the Forte, sometimes better known as the L200 or Triton. It was originally created as a pickup truck, but in 1981 four-wheel-drive was added and they haven’t looked back since.
Audi Quattro - 1980
With their experience in designing 4WD vehicles during the Second World War, Audi would later create a highly-regarded four-wheel-drive in the form of the Quattro (literally meaning four in Italian). It made its debut as a rally car in the 1980 Geneva Motor Show and transformed competition, winning in successive years.
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