Landrover Classic released the first heritage-themed Defender Works V8, inspired by the car owned by one of the company’s founders.
Only 30 units of the Land Rover Classic Defender Works V8 Islay Edition will be built from the sponsor’s existing 2012-16 Defenders.
17 models will have a short 90-wheelbase body style and 13 will have a 110-long wheelbase design.
Prices for the legacy models start from £230,000 (AU$431,883) for 90 and £245,000 (AU$460,049) for 110.
The inspiration for the limited edition Defender was taken from a 1965 Land Rover Series IIa owned by Spencer Wilks – one of the founders of Land Rover – as well as the Isle of Islay in Scotland.
The exterior color scheme is taken from Wilks’ 1965 Defender with Heritage Gray, limestone roof and heavy duty steel wheels.
The traditional Land Rover logo and badge appear on the exterior of the vehicle including the bonnet, front grille and rear fender.
A badge has been stamped on the side of the car along with the Defender 1965’s original number plate, heavily inspired by it. The designers also added a plague inside the car detailing the story of the Land Rover name.
Land Rover Classic brings the classic grille but the two sides are modern LED headlights.
Mechanical enhancements include the Defender Suspension Upgrade Kit with revised coil springs and dampers, as well as the Handling Upgrade Kit that adds enhanced Works V8 brake discs, pads and calipers.
Inside, the headrests and steering wheel have an embossed Land Rover logo, while body color trim can be found on the dashboard.
The interior is upholstered in Windsor Ebony leather, which comes with Tweed trim from the Islay Woolen Factory.
A removable wooden tray in the center console storage space is made of walnut and oak whiskey casks from Islay’s Kilchoman Distillery.
The distillery will also produce a limited edition whiskey, with each Defender purchasing a bottle.
The heritage model is powered by a 5.0-liter V8 petrol engine that produces 302 kW of power and 515 Nm of torque, mated to an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission.
Land Rover says its name derives from Spencer Wilks, who, while driving a heavily modified 1947 prototype Rover over the rugged terrain of his Scottish property, remarked that it must be a “Land” Rover” and thus the name was born.
Wilks tested original Land Rover prototypes on his Laggan Estate in Scotland on the Isle of Islay, the heritage special edition model that takes its name.
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Than: Land Rover Defender
