Milestone Land Rover Defender Sold for £400k

Defenders being sold for £400,000 are a steal in today’s football world. But when we’re talking about a Land Rover 4x4, you know it must be something special.

The Defender in question is a special landmark two-millionth model which has just gone under the hammer in London.

The model has been in production for 67 years in various guises.
Classics dating back decades can still be seen today - a testament to their longevity, with famous drivers including the likes of Queen Elizabeth II.

What makes the landmark Defender so special

• It contains a special map depicting Anglesey’s Red Wharf Bay on aluminium plates between its door openings and its front wheel arches
• Its leather seats also have the bay’s map engraved on it
• It has a special commemorative S90 HUE registration plate

This pays homage to the original HUE 166 pre-production plate.
And the significance of Red Wharf Bay? This is where Maurice Wilkes, the engineering director of Land Rover, first drew the original design in the Anglesey sands.

Background story

Did you know that as many as 33 brand ambassadors were in on the design of the landmark model?

These include famous names such as the Born Free Foundation’s Virginia McKenna and adventurer Bear Grylls.

The Bonhams auction raised £400,000, which will go towards the charities which Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has constantly supported.

These include Born Free and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

The former’s mission is to help rescue wildlife from bad conditions worldwide while promoting conservation.

British bid fails

A major effort went into keeping the landmark vehicle in the UK, but ultimately proved fruitless.

Brian Reynolds, a massive Land Rover fan, started a crowd-funding initiative to keep the iconic Defender in Britain. But he was outbid by a Qatari enthusiast.

The Defender: the end and the beginning

The Defender’s production is due to finish next February. But it is due to live-on via an all-new version in three years’ time.

What they’re saying about the landmark Defender

JLR’s chief executive Ralph Speth says the landmark vehicle’s auction is a fitting way of celebrating the Defender’s part in backing the firm’s conservation and humanitarian aid partners down the years.

Born Free movie star McKenna says she is “delighted” the special commemorative Land Rover will help the animals in Kenya’s Meru region.

If you have a classic Jaguar, protect your pride and joy with our classic car insurance policies. Why not join up with other passionate Jag-fans and find out more about The Jaguar Enthusiasts club or The Jaguar Drivers Club.