Land Rover Defender production ceases

Production number 2,016,933 is complete at Solihull and the Defender is no more!

Defender fans will be pleased to know that there's more to this story than simply the end of production for Land Rover's most legendary model. There's also been an online 'Defender Journeys' forum launched, plus the news of a Heritage Restoration programme.

A legend of British history. And an old PM

But more on those shortly, because we should really focus on the last, last Defender. It's a Heritage 90 Soft Top, the spec as close to the first Series I as is now possible, with the hood cleat in fact identical to that used in 1948. Naturally it's Grasmere Green, and likely to be one of the most well known Defenders in the world. Remember the two-millionth Defender sold for £400,000...

For the owner of this Defender and the thousands of others, today also marks the launch of Defender Journeys. It's an online platform allowing "the legendary model to live on in a digital environment", where owners will post their most memorable journeys in Defenders and share with fellow enthusiasts. Furthermore, when the new Defender arrives and the argument arises that 'it isn't what it used to be', there will be a wealth of videos and pictures to support that point!

As well as the online portal, the end of production sees the launch of the Heritage Restoration for Series and Defender models. So if yours isn't fit for a Defender Journey yet, a crack team of 12 experts can work on restoring it to its former glory. Between the dozen there are 172 years of Defender and Land Rover experience, with this Heritage division ensuring the name will live on at Solihull for a while yet. Plus, if you want to take a look at how the Defender production line did look, there a 360-degree video tour here.

"Which way to Namibia chaps?"

So the Defender may well be gone, but it's not forgotten. Like that was ever going to happen. Speaking at Solihull, Jaguar Land Rover CEO Ralf Speth said: "There will always be a special place in our hearts for Defender... but this is not the end. We have a glorious past to champion, and a wonderful future to look forward to." JLR Group Engineering Chief is Nick Rogers, who added that working on the replacement is the "next exciting chapter and we are looking forward to taking on that challenge."

Finally, a few Defender facts to sign off with. It takes 7,000 parts and 56 hours to build a Defender, and a new one was being produced every four minutes. Steve McQueen owned one. And the door hinges are known as pig's ears. We must have a few Defender and Series owners on PH, so over to you to share some stories. Then the guessing game can begin on the replacement!