Land Rover Classic has revealed its first heritage-themed special edition Defender – the Classic Defender Works V8 Islay Edition.
It celebrates founder and director Spencer Wilks and Scotland’s Isle of Islay, where the Land Rover name was born.
The Classic Defender Works V8 Islay Edition is inspired by a Series IIa Land Rover owned and used by Wilks that now forms part of the Land Rover Classic collection.
Wilks’ Laggan Estate on Islay was used to test early prototypes and in 1947, while driving his heavily modified Rover across the rugged landscape, the gamekeeper remarked that it must be a “Land Rover” — thus the name was born.
Based on the same technical specification as the Classic Defender Works V8, the Islay Edition is powered by a 298kW 5.0-litre V8 petrol engine mated to an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission.
Each has been comprehensively restored, re-engineered and upgraded, using donor vehicles from 2012-2016.
The hand-assembled vehicle provides a unique proposition to discerning clients looking for a truly luxurious, comprehensively engineered, collectable classic Defender, direct from the original manufacturer.
The Islay Edition will be limited to 30 examples, all station wagons, with 17 available as a 90 short wheelbase and 13 as a seven-seat 110 version.
Land Rover Classic’s Paul Barritt said 2023 marked 75 years of Land Rover.
“The authenticity, modern engineering, and exquisite execution from our skilled engineers and technicians, make this limited-edition Classic Defender a very special vehicle for our discerning clients looking for the ultimate heritage Land Rover,” he said.
Unique to the Works V8 Islay Edition is a side graphic reading ‘GXC 639C’ – the registration of Wilks’ Series IIa.
The Islay Edition features modern enhancements including LED headlights, along with uprated suspension and braking systems.
Inside the seats are trimmed in Windsor Ebony leather, which can also be found on the side trim, doors, roof lining and dashboard.
Body colour detail surrounds the centre console and infotainment system, which features satellite navigation, DAB radio and Bluetooth housed within original display and facia.
The same Heritage Grey body colour surrounds the pistol grip transmission lever.
Beside the lever is a plaque detailing the story of how the Land Rover name came to be.
In addition, the Land Rover heritage logo is embossed on the steering wheel and seat headrests.
Unusually for a Classic Defender, all the footwells are carpeted for an added touch of luxury.
Links to the Isle of Islay are woven into the thoughtful details found throughout the interior.
The shoulder area of the seats, sections of the door cards, the lid of the central armrest and detail hidden behind the sun visor are all finished in a special tweed, crafted by the Islay Woollen Mill.
The console box has a removable tray, complete with leather tabs, that features the oak of whisky barrels sourced from the islands award-winning Kilchoman distillery.
Each tray features a unique 110mm wooden disc that replicates the end of a whisky barrel and is made from a specific piece of the wood that displays authentic stencilled lettering.
The disc is set into the tray, which is finished in American Walnut wood veneer to complement the whisky barrel oak, with beautiful dovetail joints for an exquisite finish.
The specially crafted surround showcases the distillery and Woollen Mill in the same stencilled font, just like a genuine whisky barrel and includes the official Land Rover 75th anniversary logo.
The base of each cup holder is also made from the whisky barrel wood.
Oak wood veneer detailing extends to the rear load area., while the dashboard clock also mirrors the wood grain of the other features.
Defender Islay Edition is priced from £230,000 for the 90 or £245,000 for the 110.
Unfortunately, JLR Australia has no plans to import the special edition. Customer enquiries should be directed to Land Rover Classic, +44 (0) 2476 566 600 or sales@classic-jaguarlandrover.com
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