Maurice Wilks

Maurice Wilks (1904 to 1963) was an English automotive and aeronautical engineer who became chairman of the Rover Company and is regarded as the founder of the Land Rover. After working for Hillman in Coventry and for General Motors in the United States, he joined Rover as chief engineer in 1930 alongside his older brother Spencer Wilks, and the two steered the firm towards high quality cars. During the Second World War he led Rover's team developing Frank Whittle's gas turbine aircraft engine, and after the war he continued with gas turbines, leading to Rover unveiling the first gas turbine powered car in 1949. While farming on Anglesey with an army surplus Willys Jeep he and Spencer conceived a utility four-wheel-drive vehicle for farmers, which became the Land Rover, launched at the 1948 Amsterdam Motor Show. He was technical director from 1946, joint managing director from 1956, managing director from 1960 and chairman from 1962, and he died in 1963.