Old Defender makes costly comeback
REMEMBER when they announced the pricing for the new Defender and Land Rover enthusiasts around the world accused Jaguar Land Rover of losing the plot? Well, JLR heard your pleas of poverty and decided to bring back the old Defender (with an even bigger price tag, mind).
And just how do they plan on doing that? By giving Bowler Motors (now part of JLR’S Special Vehicles Division) the right to use the iconic shape of the old Defender that we all so love and adore.
Bowler Motors have codenamed this project ‘CSP575’ and it will combine Land Rover’s beastly 575 PS 5.0-litre supercharged V8 with Bowler’s tough and already-proven CSP strong steel chassis. Chuck in four sports seats, the obligatory roll cage, plus air con, and you are ready to go very fast in an old Defender – provided you have a spare £200,000!
While it is great that JLR are doing something with the unmistakable shape of the old Defender, that eye-watering price tag of £200k means only a handful of people can afford one. We know someone in Poland who can build a ‘new old’ Defender for less than half of that.
That said, and while you may question whether a brick is supposed to go that fast, Bowler Motors have a proven track record in off-road racing and built some incredible racers since they first opened for business in 1985. This road-going 110 Station Wagon old Defender is the first vehicle Bowler have produced since 2016, and we reckon it will be worth the wait. So if you’re reading this Bowler, we’d love a go, to see for ourselves!
Full details will be released next year and the first UK and Euro customers are expected to take delivery in 2021. For more information go to bowlermotors.co.uk.