- production ▁models ▁for ▁evaluation ▁purposes . ▁ ▁The ▁Land ▁R over ▁was ▁launched ▁to ▁the ▁world ▁at ▁the ▁ 1 9 4 8 ▁Amsterdam ▁Motor ▁Show . ▁ ▁Maurice ▁Wil ks ▁was ▁a ▁leading ▁light ▁in ▁the ▁establishment ▁and ▁development ▁of ▁the ▁prov ing ▁ground ▁facilities ▁of ▁the ▁Motor ▁Indust ry ▁Research ▁Association . ▁ ▁Maurice ▁Wil ks ▁remained ▁chief ▁engineer ▁until ▁appointed ▁technical ▁director ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 6 . ▁He ▁was ▁appointed ▁joint ▁man aging ▁director ▁with ▁brother ▁Sp encer ▁Wil ks ▁in ▁August ▁ 1 9 5 6 ▁and ▁succeeded ▁his ▁brother ▁as ▁man aging ▁director ▁in ▁November ▁ 1 9 6 0 . ▁In ▁January ▁ 1 9 6 2 ▁prefer ring ▁policy ▁to ▁day - to - day ▁management ▁he ▁was ▁appointed ▁chairman ▁of ▁the ▁R over ▁Company ▁in ▁succession ▁to ▁his ▁older ▁brother ▁Sp encer ▁Wil ks . ▁The ▁man aging ▁director ▁appointment ▁was ▁given ▁to ▁W ▁F ▁F ▁Martin - H urst . ▁ ▁Death ▁Wil ks ▁died ▁at ▁his ▁farm ▁near ▁New borough , ▁Ang les ey , ▁on ▁ 8 ▁September ▁ 1 9 6 3 . ▁ ▁His ▁ob itu ary ▁in ▁The ▁Times ▁described ▁him ▁as ▁sh unning ▁public ity ▁but ▁added ▁that ▁he ▁was ▁f ars ight ed ▁and ▁regarded ▁as ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁industry ' s ▁out standing ▁engine ers ▁with ▁a ▁brilliant ▁knowledge ▁of ▁engineering ▁detail . ▁He ▁was ▁surv ived ▁by ▁his ▁wife ▁and ▁three ▁children . ▁ ▁He ▁married ▁Barbara ▁Martin - H urst ▁in