Every now and then, Land Rover reminds us that the old-school Defender is still available. Although production of the original British off-roader ended a decade ago, the company’s Classic division will still sell you one through its Works Bespoke program. These are fully restored vehicles built between 2012 and 2016 and equipped with a stout 400-horsepower V-8.
You can now match a Classic Defender’s paint job to that of Land Rover’s beefiest modern Defender, the Octa. Each vehicle spends roughly 300 hours in the paint shop to receive one of the following finishes: Petra Copper, Faroe Green, Sargasso Blue, or Narvik Black. Alternatively, Carpathian Grey and Charente Grey remain part of the palette. All hues are available in either glossy or satin for those who prefer a matte look.
Land Rover will also paint the grille glossy black to echo the Octa, while the model’s name script on the hood is made from “chopped carbon fiber.” Wheel options include five designs, 11 finishes, and two sizes: 16 and 18 inches.
The connection to today’s Defender Octa continues inside, where the Classic can be ordered with the same fabric and leather upholstery choices. Depending on which material you select, colors include Khaki Green, Light Cloud, Lunar, Burnt Sienna, and Ebony. These shades can be extended beyond the seats to cover the headliner, door cards, dashboard, transmission levers, and steering wheel.
Land Rover says the idea of mirroring the Octa’s customization options on the Classic Defender came from customers. It noticed some buyers were ordering the modern version while commissioning a matching classic counterpart. While the new model starts at £148,045 in the UK before options, its predecessor is far pricier at £190,000.
The Classic Defender’s V-8 isn’t borrowed from BMW, unlike the Octa’s twin-turbo 4.4-liter unit. Instead, it uses Land Rover’s own naturally aspirated 5.0-liter mill producing 400 hp and 515 Nm (380 lb-ft) of torque. Power is delivered to the wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission from ZF, as is the case with the Octa.
For the money, Land Rover Classic beefs up the brakes, tweaks the steering, and installs a new suspension. If you’d prefer a brand-new vehicle that captures the spirit of the old Defender, the Ineos Grenadier should tick most of the boxes. Coincidentally, it too uses BMW engines like the Octa.
Source: Land Rover
