Car Enthusiast - click here to access the home page


 


Land Rover revives Classic Defender for V8 Works Bespoke. Image by Land Rover.

Land Rover revives Classic Defender for V8 Works Bespoke
The 405hp original Defender is back for another outing, but at a serious price...
<< earlier Land Rover article     later Land Rover article >>

 


News homepage -> Land Rover news

What's all this about?

While the ultimate version of the current Land Rover Defender is the impending V8-powered Octa, there's still a strong market for businesses re-engineering 'Classic' Defenders with big engines and modernised technology/underpinnings. So Land Rover itself wants a slice of this pie, hence this is the Classic Defender V8 by Works Bespoke.

Wait, what? The old Defender is going into production again alongside the new one?!

No, no, no - instead, Land Rover Classic, the department which overhauls the company's old models, has 'selectively curated' existing Defenders built from 2012 until 2016 to be treated to this update, which sees the old 120hp turbodiesel chucked out in favour of a 405hp, 515Nm, 5.0-litre V8.

Hold on a second; this all sounds terribly familiar...

Ah. You have a good memory. Well, that's because what is happening now is much what happened for the original Defender's 70th birthday in 2018. When you could buy a Land Rover Defender Works V8 70th Edition, with just 150 going through the same treatment for a cost of £150,000 apiece.

A hundred-and-fifty grand for an old Defender? Is this one the same money?

Er, no. It's more. You can once again choose from a 90 (short wheelbase) or a 110 (long wheelbase) with the Classic Defender V8 by Works Bespoke, but the 90 costs from £190,000 plus VAT (so that's £228,000, all in) while the 110 starts at £199,000 + VAT (£238,800). That's for a five-seater 110, though; if you want a seven-seat one with a V8 up front, you're looking at £204,000 with VAT on top (£244,800).

Nigh-on a quarter-of-a-million quid! Why is it so pricey? Do you get more power this time?

Well, y'know, inflation and all. And to answer the second part of your question, er, again... no. From what we can see, it's a repeat of the 2018 specification, although this is no bad thing. So you get the same 405hp 5.0-litre V8, driving all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission with a pistol-grip shifter in the cabin. Land Rover's own in-house 'Defender Suspension Upgrade Kit' features Eibach coil spring rates and anti-roll bars along with Bilstein dampers, while the braking is enhanced with four-piston Alcon callipers, gripping 335mm front discs and 300mm items at the back. Said to provide the optimal blend of road-holding and ride comfort, the chassis is better while the drivetrain results in a 5.9-second 0-62mph run for the V8 90, while the 110 takes 6.1 seconds to do the same sprint.

Then it's a selection of Works Bespoke colours from the Heritage, Contemporary, Premium or SV Metallic palettes (or even, as the name hints, a bespoke colour of the customer's choosing), as well as single- or two-tone finishes for the roof, features like a Heritage, Standard or Adventure grille, and either 16-inch 'Wolf' or 18-inch 'Sawtooth' alloy wheels to finish the look off. Anyone interested can also opt for side steps and a whole host of off-roadery-type accessories such as a roof rack, expedition cage, ladder and winch. Lighting is taken care of by LED lamps, with roof-mounted spotlights or a full LED light-bar also offered.

Inside, there's the recognisable Defender dash, complete with the pistol shifter once more, with the option of some luxurious monotone or duotone leather finishes, with comfier Premium and sportier Recaro seats both options. Infotainment isn't quite as cutting edge, mind, with a teensy 3.5-inch touchscreen handling the mapping, DAB and Bluetooth functions. Personalisation is the key inside, though, with the configurator outlining all the many choices, while those seeking adventure in their Classic Defender V8 can even go for a Ply Guys Camper Conversion which turns the rear of the cabin into living quarters. The slightly more straightforward alternative here is a roof-mounted tent-box and ladder arrangement.

OK, it all sounds nice, if you're after a Classic Defender with grunt. What else can you add?

Only that, technically, this is only one of very few V8-powered Land Rover Defenders to be introduced since way back in 1998 (with the first-ever eight-cylinder Landy being a Series III launched in 1979), in fact being the only one aside from the 2018 Defender Works and a couple of spin-offs (called the Islay, Trophy and Trophy II), and that the Classic Defender V8 by Works Bespoke will make its full official debut at the 2024 Goodwood Revival in early September.

Paul Barritt, director of Land Rover Classic, said: "With Works Bespoke, we are giving clients the opportunity to create their perfect Classic Defender V8, a vehicle that will suit their exact lifestyle. Every vehicle is lovingly crafted, with creativity the only limit when it comes to personalising each vehicle to the owner's desired specification. From start to finish, clients of Works Bespoke will be given an experience like no other, creating their ultimate Classic Defender V8."



Matt Robinson - 28 Aug 2024



Classic Defender V8 by Works Bespoke. Image by Land Rover.Classic Defender V8 by Works Bespoke. Image by Land Rover.Classic Defender V8 by Works Bespoke. Image by Land Rover.Classic Defender V8 by Works Bespoke. Image by Land Rover.Classic Defender V8 by Works Bespoke. Image by Land Rover.

Classic Defender V8 by Works Bespoke. Image by Land Rover.Classic Defender V8 by Works Bespoke. Image by Land Rover.Classic Defender V8 by Works Bespoke. Image by Land Rover.Classic Defender V8 by Works Bespoke. Image by Land Rover.Classic Defender V8 by Works Bespoke. Image by Land Rover.









www.landrover.co.uk    - Land Rover road tests
- Land Rover news
- Defender images






Kingsley KSR is new take on old Rangie. Image by Kingsley.
Reimagined classic Rangie: yours for £220k
Kingsley Re-Engineered creates its ultimate classic Range Rover, the KSR.
 
Kingsley reveals ‘new’ re-engineered Defender series. Image by Kingsley.
Kingsley reveals 'new' re-engineered Defender
Oxfordshire-based company says the handcrafted restorations will “set a new standard” for the legendary Defender.
Land Rover Defender Octa packs 635hp punch. Image by Land Rover.
Land Rover details mighty Defender Octa
As quick off-road as it is on it, the Land Rover Defender Octa will cost from c.£145,300.

 
 215 Racing
 9ff
 A. Kahn Design
 Abarth
 Abt
 AC Cars
 AC Schnitzer
 Acura
 Aehra
 AIM
 Alfa Romeo
 Alpina
 Alpine
 Amari
 APS Sportec
 Arash
 Arden
 Ares
 Ariel
 Arrinera
 Artega
 Ascari
 Aston Martin
 Atalanta
 Atomik
 Audi
 Austin
 Auto Union
 Autodelta
 Autofarm
 Autosport
 AVA
 Avatar
 Axon
 Aznom
 BAC
 BAIC
 Bentley
 Bertone
 Bizzarrini
 Bloodhound
 Bluebird
 BMW
 Bosch
 Bowler
 Brabham
 Brabus
 Breckland
 Bridgestone
 Brilliance
 Bristol
 Bugatti
 Buick
 Burton
 BYD
 Cadillac
 Callaway
 Callum
 Caparo
 Capstone
 Carlsson
 Caterham
 CCG
 Chang'an
 Changfeng
 Chevrolet
 Chevron
 Chongfeng
 Chrysler
 Citroen
 Climax
 Connaught
 Cooper Tires
 Corvette
 Cummins
 Cupra
 Dacia
 Daewoo
 Daihatsu
 Daimler
 Dartz
 Datsun
 David Brown
 David Brown Automotive
 DDR
 De Tomaso
 Delta
 Detroit Electric
 Devon
 Dodge
 Donkervoort
 Drayson
 DS
 Eagle
 Eagle E-type
 EDAG
 edo competition
 Eterniti
 Everrati
 Evisol
 Exagon
 FAB Design

 
 Factory Five
 Faralli & Mazzanti
 Fenix
 Fenomenon
 Ferrari
 Fiat
 Fisker
 Ford
 G-Power
 Geely
 Gemballa
 General Motors
 Genesis
 Ginetta
 Giugiaro
 Glickenhaus
 GMC
 Goodwood
 Google
 Gordon Murray
 Gordon Murray Automotive
 Gordon Murray Design
 Gray Design
 Great Wall
 GTA
 GTM
 Gumpert
 Hamann
 Hartge
 HBH
 Heffner Performance
 Hennessey
 HERE
 HiPhi
 Holden
 Honda
 Hulme
 Hummer
 Hyundai
 I.D.E.A
 Icona
 IFR
 Infiniti
 Ionity
 Isis
 JAC
 Jaguar
 Jeep
 Jensen
 Jetstream
 JJAD
 Joss Developments
 Kahn
 Kamala
 Keating
 Kia
 Koenigsegg
 KTM
 Kumho
 Lada
 Lagonda
 Lamborghini
 Lancia
 Land Rover
 Lexus
 Liberty
 Lightning
 Lincoln
 Lister
 Loma Performance
 Lorinser
 Lotus
 LupiniPower
 Luxgen
 Mahindra
 Mansory
 Maserati
 Mastretta
 Maybach
 Mazda
 McLaren
 Mercedes
 Mercedes-AMG
 Mercedes-Benz
 Mercedes-Maybach
 Mercury
 Metrocab
 MG
 Michelin
 MINI
 Mitsubishi
 MMI
 Monte Carlo
 Mopar
 Morgan
 Mosler
 MTM
 Munro
 NAC MG
 Nichols Cars
 Nissan
 NLV

 
 Noble
 Novitec
 Opel
 Overfinch
 Pagani
 Perodua
 Peugeot
 Piaggio
 Pininfarina
 Polestar
 Pontiac
 Porsche
 Praga
 Preview
 Prodrive
 Project Runningblade
 Project Velocity
 Proton
 Protoscar
 Qoros
 Radical
 Range Rover
 Red Bull
 Renault
 Reva
 Rimac
 Rinspeed
 RoadRazer
 Rolls-Royce
 Ronn Motor Company
 Rover
 RUF
 Saab
 SAIC
 Saleen
 Saturn
 Scagliarini
 SCG
 Scion
 SDR Sportscars
 SEAT
 Sin
 Singer
 Skoda
 Smart
 Soleil
 Spada
 speedArt
 Sportec
 Spyker
 SRT
 Ssangyong
 SSC
 Startech
 STaSIS
 Subaru
 Suzuki
 Suzusho
 TAD
 Tamiya
 Tata
 Techart
 Tesla
 The Little Car Company
 THINK
 Thunder Power
 Tojeiro
 Tommy Kaira
 TomTom
 Toray
 Toyota
 Trabant
 TranStar
 Trident
 Tushek
 TVR
 TWR
 UKCOTY
 Vanda Electrics
 Vauxhall
 Velozzi
 Vencer
 Venturi
 Veritas
 Vizualtech
 VL Automotive
 Volkswagen
 Volvo
 VUHL
 WCA
 WCotY
 Webasto
 Westfield
 Wiesmann
 Xenatec
 Yamaha
 Zagato
 Zarooq
 Zeekr
 Zenos
 Zenvo



 
 






External links:   | Irish Car Market News |

Internal links:   | Home | Privacy | Contact us | Archives | Old motor show reports | Follow Car Enthusiast on Twitter | Copyright 1999-2024 ©