After 67 years of transporting people and goods through and over any terrain imaginable, the Land Rover Defender recently saw its two millionth unit roll of the production line. For many countries where the Defender is being sold and has made an impact, this is a great moment, but for the people back in Solihull, England, home of Land Rover, this moment will be celebrated with a one-off model, called the Defender 2 000 000.
A specially-built Defender will incorporate 67 years of heritage into one product; a product Land Rover hopes will be the defining export of a vehicle that has withstood the test of time and is a living legend. Special guests have been brought in to help build this one of a kind vehicle, including reality TV adventurer Bear Grylls.
“Over 67 years, the Series Land Rover and in turn Defender has been the transport of choice for explorers, charity organisations, farmers and even royalty,” said Dr Ralf Speth, Chief Executive of Jaguar Land Rover. “Throughout history it has helped pioneers to reach the unreachable. What started life as an agricultural workhorse has transcended the automotive world to become a worldwide design icon.”
As special as this model is, only one person will be able to own it. Come December 2015, renowned auction house Bonhams, will oversee the auctioning of this vehicle and the proceeds of this auction will be donated to Land Rover’s humanitarian and conservation partners.
“The auction of this milestone vehicle is an opportunity to own a piece of Land Rover’s history, as Defender enters its final phase of manufacturing in Solihull,” Dr Speth continued.
Bear Grylls also gave his thoughts of what being a part of the production team meant to him: “The Land Rover Defender has been there for me more times than I care to remember. They are so often the unsung heroes of our TV shows, working hard in the toughest conditions to get crew in and out of exceptionally challenging terrains. Known and respected by me and many other adventurers for their rugged reliability – it was an honour to be asked to take part in the build of this very special car.”
The Land Rover Defender 2 000 000 will be unveiled to the public at the upcoming Goodwood Festival of Speed (25 – 28 June 2015), where after it will make more public appearances leading up to its auctioning on December 16.
The vehicle will sport a plethora of features to commemorate its rich near-seven decade history, including a map of Red Wharf Bay: the beach where the original Land Rover was drawn in the sand.
