A limited run of up to 150 re-engineered V8-powered versions of the Land Rover Defender has been announced, celebrating the marque’s 70th anniversary.
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Land Rover Defender
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Land Rover 'taxi' tackles streets of London
A one-of-a-kind Land Rover Defender 'taxi' startled Londoners as it drove through the streets of the capital.
The iconic 4x4 was starring in a film to commemorate 67 years of the Defender as it enters final phase of production, while also helping promote a forthcoming charity auction of the special 'Defender 2,000,000' model being held at Bonhams on 16 December. All proceeds from the auction of Defender 2,000,000 will be donated in their entirety to Land Rover's humanitarian and conservation partners - the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Born Free Foundation.
The film also stars a number of other more unusual, specially modified vehicles including a Series II Land Rover ice cream van, a specially tailored Paul Smith Defender and the first ever Series Land Rover show car, displayed at the Amsterdam Motor Show in 1948.
The special Defender features many distinctive finishing touches. A map of Red Wharf Bay - where the design for the original Land Rover was first drawn in the sand - is engraved on the car, which contrasts with the exterior Indus Silver satin paint. 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 reference to the first ever pre-production Land Rover, registration 'HUE 166' - complete this one-of-a-kind Land Rover Defender.
Production of the original Land Rover Series I began at the Lode Lane facility in 1947 ahead of its launch at the Amsterdam Motor Show on 30 April 1948. Since then two million examples of the Series I, II III and Defender have been produced at Solihull.
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Jaguar Land Rover unveil new Bond cars in Frankfurt
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) revealed its new James Bond cars - the Jaguar C-X75, Range Rover Sport SVR and Land Rover Defender - to the public for the first time
Land Rover celebrations at Goodwood Revival
Land Rover's celebration of 67 years of Series Land Rover and Defender production will continue at this year's Goodwood Revival from 11-13 September.
The engineering bloodline that links the original Series One with the latest Defender will be marked in a special presentation and displays capturing the birth of the iconic 4x4 and its progress through the past seven decades.
Faithful to the retro spirit of the meeting, Land Rover will be recreating key elements from the development of the Series I, which made its UK public debut at the 1948 Earls Court Motor Show, including drawing board plans and an early pre-production chassis. A Series I model will be shown tilted at 45 degrees and the team manning the display will be dressed in replica engineering smocks worn by the 1940s production workers.
Land Rover owners will be taking part in a daily parade of more than 50 pre-1966 Series models, including many special conversion body styles such as the bright yellow 1950 Series I Bertam Mills Circus vehicle, custom-built in the late 1950s to give the impression that it was being driven by the circus elephant, named Kam.
In addition, 11 pre-production Land Rovers (descendants of HUE 166) are to participate in what is believed to be the largest number of pre-production vehicles ever seen in motion.
The culmination of the presentation is the latest Defender Autobiography, a model that brings together the robust qualities of the original with bespoke and contemporary design features.
The Bonhams' stand at the revival meeting will be showcasing Defender 2,000,000. This unique vehicle, which was specially built to celebrate its production landmark at Solihull, is set to go under the hammer at a charity auction in London on 16 December.