"The latest Land Rover Defender is just the latest in a long line that can trace a direct descent from the original Series 1 designed by Maurice & Spencer Wilks way back in 1947. Although some things have changed a lot over "
Land Rover Defender: Gallery
They are so ubiquitous you might not notice them. But heaven is in the details of the Land Rover Defender.
There is one word that summarises the appeal of Land Rover’s Defender: Simplicity.
It might be that this straightforwardness of approach is the harbinger of its ultimate demise. But we think it’s the direct approach to an automotive problem that makes the Defender so eternally beloved.
We drove a Defender around from Cumbria to Cape Wrath recently – and then down across three countries to Pembrokshire, and finally back to London. At first, we couldn’t believe how archaic the car seemed. You can’t switch off. You feel every yard of the road. And through an absolute hoolie of a storm we threaded our way up through the Lowlands and then to the heightening glens and finally across the Highlands and down to the North Shore of continental Europe. By the morning we were in love with the car.
Nothing is extraneous to the simple requirement of keeping going. You throw stuff in the back. You trundle along . There’s something of the simple joy of driving inherent in bumbling about in a Defender. And you know you can go anywhere, any time, in any conditions.
That safety and emissions and other regulations mean that Land Rover can’t go on producing these totems of an agro-industrial age is a travesty. It might be seen as simple progression by technocrats. But know this. When the final Defender roles of the lines in Solihull some time this year, it will be the end of a much-loved era.
You never realise what you’ve got until it’s gone.
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- The latest and final cluster was introduced in 2002
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- Textured steel
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- Articulated louvres…
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- Exterior hinges…
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- Rivets. We’ll miss them when they’re gone.
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- Rear lighting clusters are one of the most recognisable elements.
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- Chunck. Angles.
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- Rubber and appropriate rise
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- Tough utilitatianism defines all aspects of Defender’s character
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- Latest issue type is impactful and brawny
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- Light-giving glass…
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- What is this?
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Around 1980, the Saudi LandRover dealer had an open day in the desert near Dammam, where potential customers could try out the 4x4s on a sand dune course. During the exercise, four G-Wagons being delivered stopped to observe and were invited to partake, they declined.
After the event a driver in a LandRover was sent back to collect in the paraphenalia – and found the four G-Wagons stuck on the course. He pulled them out.
A video of the LandRover pulling out the G-Wagons would have been priceless advertising.
You know, the Russians have their own version of basic work vehicle made by Lada. It’s reasonably priced, unlike British Vehicles, and although less evolved than the Land Rover, is suited to even harsher conditions than those found over here. It also has a basic and boring interior, is not spacious, but is equally suitable for dropping off your child at school and blocking our side streets at peak times of day. It also gobbles fuel and is equally unsuited to our restrictive parking spaces making it perfect for the average arrogant egotistical road hog you find at any major intersection. It’s only downside is that it doesn’t have those super bright LED’s that are always turned on, The ones that everyone else finds annoying and so unnecessarily intimidating. But i assume these can be fitted on an aftermarket basis.
You mean those bright led lights that almost every car has now, even the ones that don’t have four wheel drive but still drop the kids at school and block roads, and kill pedestrians and use fuel etc etc. Come on, you’re just jealous because you can’ t afford one.
you on about the niva