Arthur Goddard, the man who was dubbed the godfather of the Land Rover, was an engineer aged in his 20s when Rover technical director Maurice Wilks put him in charge of the Land Rover project.

He was engaged for the task based on his ability to get things done and his straightforward, no-nonsense attitude – all required to take the Land Rover concept from design to production in only a few months.

It is said that the Series I Land Rover saved the Rover Company in 1948, and that Arthur Goddard’s part in its creation was fundamental.

In an interview with 4×4 Australia magazine in 2016, Mr Goddard said the explanation for the Land Rover’s long life was that it “gave people what they wanted”.

“It’s pleased a lot of people and it’s kept on pleasing people,” he told the magazine.

“We met a need. I must say some of the needs we met we didn’t know were there. On the other hand, some of the stuff we thought would be an absolute winner was an absolute woof.”

Promoted to assistant chief engineer, Mr Goddard remained in charge of the Land Rover project until the mid-1950s.

He left the company in 1955 to pursue work with other vehicle manufacturers, including one in Australia in 1972.

He then bought a small engineering firm in Brisbane to run as a hobby and in the year 2000, semi-retired.

He worked with his son Chris, also an engineer, and built up the business Vehicle Components – now known as Cruisemaster – which is a designer of tailored off-road suspension and trailer coupling products.

By Neil Dowling