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Rover chief engineer Maurice Wilks was inspired by his army-surplus Willys-Overland Jeep to create a workhorse vehicle for military and agricultural use. Prototypes were up and running by late 1947, and production of the Series I began at Solihull in summer 1948. The Land Rover price started from just £450. Supply to the British forces started in 1949, the Land Rover replacing the Austin Champ, and later, the rust-prone Austin Gipsy. Deliveries to organisations such as the Red Cross soon followed. The 100,000th Land Rover was made in autumn 1954 and by 1958, production ran to around 200,000.