Land Rover marks 75 years with limited edition new Defender
THE Series I was unveiled to the public in 1948 at the Amsterdam Motor Show, and while 75 years of commitment to one partner would normally get you a diamond, Land Rover is marking its momentous anniversary with a special Limited Edition Defender. And no, there are no sparkly bits – this isn’t a Range Rover, after all.
Available in 90 or 110 body styles, the Defender 75th Limited Edition has an exclusive exterior design theme with unique detailing, finished in none other than Grasmere Green, with complementary 20-inch wheels (shod in all-terrain rubber, of course). Completing the exterior enhancements are a unique 75 Years graphic, Ceres Silver bumpers and privacy glass.
The cabin has received a similar treatment, with the Cross Car Beam finished in Grasmere Green Powder Coat and laser-etched 75 Years detailing on the end caps. The seats are finished in Resist Ebony, with the hockey stick on the centre console covered in the most robust fabric available on the Defender – we’re not sure how this has been tested, though.
Said to ‘capture the spirit of the past 75 years, with its colour and heritage detailing, fused with innovative new technology’, the Limited Edition is based on the high-specification HSE, powered by either the P400e plug-in Electric Hybrid (PHEV) or D300 Ingenium diesel engine.
All 75th Limited Edition models also feature a folding fabric roof or the option of a sliding panoramic roof with roof rails, while 14-way driver and passenger heated electric memory seats, heated steering wheel and three-zone climate control will ensure every journey is more relaxing than a solitary meditation retreat. Maybe…
If that’s not your thing, fear not, with the Defender’s unrivalled all-terrain capability and versatility you can enjoy plenty of high adrenaline thrills off the black stuff.
To potentially enhance your experience – whether you’re out greenlaning, showboating or overlanding – all Defender 75th models have been pre-configured to include highly desirable options such as the Towing Pack, headlamp power wash, Secure Tracker Pro and domestic plug socket, to name just a few.
The new Defender 75th Limited Edition starts at £85,995 for the 90 and £89,995 for the 110, and is available to configure at landrover.com or order via your local dealer. If you can’t afford this highly collectible Land Rover, then perhaps the brand’s range of goodies also launched to celebrate this historic moment – an example of which is pictured below – might appeal. The Lifestyle Collection shares the Grasmere Green colour theme and 75 Years graphics and detailing and includes a watch, backpack and clothing… With Christmas not too far away, it’s a great excuse to kickstart your wish list.
SAY the words ‘barn find’ and you conjure up images of a rare classic car that’s been rediscovered after being stored for god knows how many years, and more often than not in derelict condition. Twisted Automotive has given the term a twist, if you’ll excuse the pun. And that’s because for the last six years it has been intentionally storing 16 Defender 110s, and now they’re up for grabs.
So, they tick the boxes for rarity (they’re the last of the line) and they’re valuable, as one would expect from a barn find, but they’re in mint condition as they’ve been dry stored all that time and, well, not all that old really. It seems Twisted is a shrewd investor as well as a Defender specialist, because Charles Fawcett, the company’s founder and managing director, ordered over 200 Land Rover Defenders back in 2015 with a view to them being the ‘raw material’ for Twisted’s bespoke offerings. The latest Defenders to be plucked out of storage for individual customisation are 16 110 XS models, one of each colour in seven-seat Station Wagon guise and five-seat Utility.
Fawcett explains: “I went to the Defender production line at Solihull to meet the men and women building the vehicles. These 16 Defender 110s were hand-picked for their chassis numbers and build dates. They were all registered in 2016 – after production ceased – identifying them among the last off the line and, arguably, more collectable. They’re special, and when ‘Twisted’, each one is the only one. Hence the limited run is called One of One.”
All the One of Ones will be ‘Twisted’, but exactly how depends on the tastes and budget of the customer. Customers can choose their powertrain – either the TVS 2.3-litre or four-cylinder turbocharged petrol (308bhp and 350lb-ft of torque) or TTD 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel (174bhp and 310lb-ft). Build slots are now open for delivery during 2023 – 40 years after the launch of the original 110.
Twisted’s limited run of special Defenders is available to reserve now, starting from £135,000 plus VAT for the 2.2 TTD Utility Wagon. Enquiries should be made via info@twistedautomotive.com or +44 (0)1845 574 990.