Rowan’s Rover

A piece of history comes up for sale

Mr Bean drove a phlegm-coloured Mini, but world-famous comic actor Rowan Atkinson CBE had better taste. He asked Iconic Auctioneers to find him a Land Rover Defender 110 Heritage Edition specifically for his own use. The company found him this car which was originally supplied new in 2015 to its first owner who covered a nominal mileage over 18 months.

During his ownership the car was fitted with a factory-specification tow bar and electrics as well as factory-spec air conditioning (at a cost of NZD$9,000) and a car alarm.

When Land Rover finally called time on the Defender the company launched the final Defender Celebration Series to mark the occasion. Limited to a build of just 400, the last Defender rolled off the production line at 9.15am on 29th

January 2016. It was number 2,016,933 Defender built at Solihull and thus became the last true Land Rover, the end of an era.

All the new Heritage Edition

Defenders were finished in Grasmere Green with an Alaskan White roof, Heritage-style grill, headlamp surrounds and heavy-duty steel wheels. Modern upgrades included a perforated leather steering wheel and gear lever, aluminium trim for the air vents, door handles and door locks, interior trim finished in Almond Resolve cloth seat facings with the Heritage logo and a padded cubby box between the two front seats.

Over its 68- year history the Defender was popular with VIPs and high-profile celebrities including the Beatle, Paul McCartney actor Steve McQueen and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.