Want a classic Land Rover Defender but covet the colourways offered on the top of the range new Defender? Your wishes have been answered by the good people at Land Rover Classic – the factory bespoke business that transforms old Defenders into highly desirable official restomods. Land Rover Classic are now offering tasty exterior and interior choices previously reserved for the hugely powerful Defender Octa, the halo model of the new-shape Defender range. Basically, it’s the best of old meeting the best of new. We’re along for the ride.
There’s been a burgeoning demand for restored and remade classic Land Rover Defenders. And this didn’t go unnoticed by parent company JLR, Jaguar Land Rover. Result is that JLR’s own Land Rover Classic division has become an increasingly important competitor for the unofficial market. Now they’re going a step further by taking stealth colourways previously reserved for the rip-snorting new Defender Octa - with its twin-turbo BMW-sourced V8 pumping out 636 bhp - and offering them to Land Rover Classic Defender customers.
Donor vehicles are from 2012-2016, stripped, refurbished and fitted with new JLR’s own V8, good for 400 bhp, rather less than the Octa, and rather more than you’re likely to need anywhere but on a mountain side autobahn. Then comes the Octa treatment, should you want it: 300 hours in the paint shop applying your choice of Petra Copper, Sargasso Blue, Faroe Green, Patagonia White or Narvik Black. We’re fans of the Octa’s optional Matte Protective Film, as JLR style it, for full stealth, rather than a shiny gloss finish.
Classic Defender V8 Octa: A look inside
Inside, your Classic Defender V8 will already have had its utilitarian interior ripped out. In its place, a look that would startle Maurice Wilks, designer of the original Defender, then just a Land Rover, in 1948. Touch screens, soft fabrics and actual comfortable seats? Done. Octa specification can add Recaro bucket seats, and a choice of colourways in JLR’s lightweight Ultrafabric, or for full stealth look the Octa’s hand-stitched Ebony leather trim options. Naturally, since Land Rover Classic is an exclusive operation, they’ll consult individually to discover what suits you best. Rather like at Rolls-Royce.
These are bespoke vehicles as we’ve said and not churned out by some common or garden production line. Actual hands have fitted, burnished and fettled each Land Rover Classic Defender V8, with your choice of Octa trim and colourway. So even though you can source a rugged, well-used classic Defender at anything from £15,000 up, these rebuilds from Land Rover Classic are effectively brand new vehicles. All of which is to prepare you for the amount of cash you’ll need to take in those Louis Vuitton bags when you pick up your new/old Classic Defender V8: that’ll be £190,000+, depending on options, or £40,000 more than a new-shape Defender Octa. Phew. At that price you might not want to get it dirty, so we’ll see you down King’s Road for the next Chelsea Cruise.
Next up: A closer look at the Defender Dakar D7X-R.
