BIDDING FOR AN ICON
A VERY special vehicle has been built to commemorate the UK production of the two-millionth Series Land Rover and Defender.
With a bespoke design and an allstar cast of special guests helping to complete the momentous build, ‘Defender 2,000,000’ celebrates almost seven decades of utility Land Rover production.
Now Land Rover fans with deep pockets will get the chance to bid for this historic vehicle when it is auctioned off in December, as Defender production in the UK winds down.
During May this year, a team of life-long Defender fans were invited to join the Solihull production line to help build this one-off vehicle. They included adventurer Bear Grylls.
The ‘Defender 2,000,000’ special features include a map of Red Wharf Bay – where the design for the original Land Rover was first drawn in the sand – engraved into the aluminium fender. A unique ‘No. 2,000,000’ badge sits on the rear of the vehicle, which is mirrored on the interior console. The design is finished with Santorini Black wheels and wheel arches, roof, door hinges, grille and mirror caps.
Inside, the leather seats also feature the ‘Red Wharf Bay’ graphic and ‘No. 2,000,000’ logos have been stitched on the headrests. A bespoke aluminium plaque, signed by everyone who helped to assemble the vehicle is fitted to the driver’s seat plinth.
On the front and rear, S90 HUE registration plates – a referene to the first ever pre-production Land Rover, registration HUE 166’ – complete this one-of-a-kind Land Rover Defender.
It will be auctioned by prestigious auction house, Bonhams. All proceeds will be donated to Land Rover’s humanitarian and conservation partners – the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the Born Free Foundation.
Dr Ralf Speth, Chief Executive of Jaguar Land Rover, said: “The auction of this milestone vehicle is an opportunity to own a piece of Land Rover’s history, as Defender enters its final phase of manufacturing in Solihull.”
The vehicle was publicly unveiled by Bonhams at Goodwood Festival of Speed. After completing a schedule of public appearances throughout the rest of the year, ‘Defender 2,000,000’ will be auctioned at a prestigious charity event, held at the Bonhams auction house in New Bond Street, London on Wednesday December 16, 2015.