Sunday 31st January 2016

Land Rover Defender production ceases

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

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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!

 

[Dixy]

As the owner of a 1969 IIa, a 1976 101 GS and a 2007 TD5 90 County, I stood in a minutes silence at 10 am this morning.

[Martin_Hx]

I'm not 4x4 junkie or farmer but its a sad day.... more British than fish & chips! Everyone loves a defender, even if they sometimes hate driving them (from what i have heard from owners)

[Falsey]

My uncle used to have a Defender and looking at it or riding in the back on the sideways bench seats it was the coolest big truck in the world.

Shame to lose it but hopefully the replacement is close in spirit.

[keith2.2]

I have hazy sunbleached memories of a summer with a blue 109 safari top station wagon. It made every trip seem like an adventure.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who has had a meander into the classifieds this morning to find a V8 90..

[austinsmirk]

Dixy said:

As the owner of a 1969 IIa, a 1976 101 GS and a 2007 TD5 90 County, I stood in a minutes silence at 10 am this morning.

I can empathise with you: having driven them, I've often had to get out of the cab, mid journey and stretch my back into shape after the horrendous drive....

joking aside, a sad day and no doubt the printers of "one life just live it" stickers will feel the financial pinch.

[HarryW]

I think they got the colour and trim for the last one spot on there; pastel green convertible...nice.

[GTDNB]

My sister and I in Nepal, 1986. Our first defender ride, from Dharan ghurka Base to dhankuta village

[Rob.043]

Sad I suppose, but definitely time to move on....

[court]

This would be my one...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

3.9 V8, auto and A/C? Where do I sign?!

[berlintaxi]

Probably the worst thing on wheels I have ever driven, but will still miss it.

[Alias218]

[GranCab]

Buy a late low mileage 90 XS and watch it appreciate .....

[jamespink]

I cant help thinking that LR have missed most of the tricks in the book to have only sold 2M units in 68 years with almost no meaningful competition... 30,000 a year could easily have been quadrupled with timely redesigns. In truth this moment should have occurred in 1968...

[ukaskew]

The final one has a 66 plate, how does that work?

As an aside I saw a brand new Green Heritage model here in Wiltshire last week, what a fabulous looking thing.

[GTEYE]

ukaskew said:

The final one has a 66 plate, how does that work?

As an aside I saw a brand new Green Heritage model here in Wiltshire last week, what a fabulous looking thing.

It doesn't have a 66 plate its "H166HUE" which is a reference back to the first production Land Rover "HUE166"

[skilly1]

Off on family hols, 2 classics here !

[sheepman]

sad day, just so happened I was walking through East works where they're built and saw the last rear axle put together and the tools put away for the last time.

Kept the British workforce in solihull going strong thats for sure.

[harleywilma]

Dont know what all the fuss is about,They drive like st and are really uncomfortable and made out of bean cans..
Totally unreliable ,Toyota landcruiser does the job better..

[powerstroke]

harleywilma said:

Dont know what all the fuss is about,They drive like st and are really uncomfortable and made out of bean cans..
Totally unreliable ,Toyota landcruiser does the job better..

Yes and as a result mosty wiped out landrover sales in countrys where having a reliable 4x4 was the difference between life and death, maybe things would have been different if LR hadn't had the same attitude as what almost killed the British motorcycle industy mind they have ended up just the same smaller volume of high end cars and motorcycles for people that want rather than need them ......

[Willy Nilly]

I hope it gets replaced with a vehicle that can be a workhorse rather than just a posing pouch. There is a big(ish) market for 4wd utility vehicles, but obviously the money is selling trinkets to bored MILFs