Goodbye land rover defender

kev1.3s

http://www.bbc.com/autos/story/20160129-this-is-the-last-land-rover-defender
Painted in the same colour as the first and given a variation of an iconic number plate this is the last defender (as we know it).
A truly sad day to say goodbye to the most classic of new cars.

Type 17

A sad day, but also a great day - in human culture/world history terms, it was probably the best British car/vehicle ever made.

To paraphrase a quote when President Lincoln was assassinated: "Now it belongs to the ages".

Merrion

Also - given how many series 1s are still on the road there's a very good chance it will outlast us all.

carchaeologist

In Ireland the defender lives on in many different guises....

Ogogo

Fascinating that they had a continuous production run of these for nearly 70 years. I remember my Dad had a new one back in the 70's (incidentally it gave loads of trouble and he didnt keep it too long) and if he dropped me to school I would be a bit embarrassed like I was being brought to school in a tractor - How times have changed, you would be the coolest kid on the block now I reckon.

Delighted that they celebrated the "end of an era" - unlike Citroen when they unceremoniously killed production of another icon, the 2CV.

Lellostag

Anyone know what the replacement will look like, if any?

Merrion

Anyone know what the replacement will look like, if any?

It will probably look like a shopping trolley covered with duvets - like all the competition now do.

Lellostag

Merrion wrote: »

Anyone know what the replacement will look like, if any?

It will probably look like a shopping trolley covered with duvets - like all the competition now do.

You are probably right about that!!

w124man

Merrion wrote: »

Anyone know what the replacement will look like, if any?

With a bit of luck the replacement will be a Landcruiser 79 with a Land Rover badge on it.

Littlehorny

Merrion wrote: »

Also - given how many series 1s are still on the road there's a very good chance it will outlast us all.

True, it is the most enviromentally friendly car of all time- fact.

paulmclaughlin

The concept art for the Defender replacement will turn an enthusiast's stomach.

Seweryn

paulmclaughlin wrote: »

The concept art for the Defender replacement will turn an enthusiast's stomach.

Oh Dear...

Lellostag

Seweryn wrote: »

Oh Dear...

You said it!

If those pictures are anything to go by the Defender will be rather pointless, as there's already the Disco and Freelander catering for the upmarket (city) off roader, not to mention the Range Rover...

One would hope they'd stick to building a proper workhorse making it reliable and easy to maintain and cheap to fix when something breaks.

piston

70 years and countless changes of company ownership/management and they never did work out how to make it reliable!

elperello

piston wrote: »

70 years and countless changes of company ownership/management and they never did work out how to make it reliable!

What a pity they didn't make it really well and it could have gone on forever.They would appear to have squandered a USP.

I remember cruising at 70 mph on a motorway in the UK in the eighties and being left for dead by one of the V8's.

InTheTrees

How long before an Indian or Chinese company buys the old factory, carts the machinery off and starts building them again somewhere where labour rates are smaller?

InTheTrees

paulmclaughlin wrote: »

The concept art for the Defender replacement will turn an enthusiast's stomach.

Absolutely LOVE the mudguards...

kaizersoze

paulmclaughlin wrote: »

The concept art for the Defender replacement will turn an enthusiast's stomach.

I kinda like it.......:o

paulmclaughlin

kaizersoze wrote: »

I kinda like it.......:o

Burn him! :pac:

Lurching

InTheTrees wrote: »

How long before an Indian or Chinese company buys the old factory, carts the machinery off and starts building them again somewhere where labour rates are smaller?

I can't find the link at the moment, but I do remember hearing that they will continue to manufacture it overseas with only special imports in to the UK or here.

goochy

Good riddance . Who would pay 70k for a new one ! Love discoveries and range Rovers but unless your going off road alot defender one of worst vehicles I can buy - horrible interior . Horrible to drive and over priced.

robtri

like the rear of the concept..... looks good...
but the front!!!! just NO....

Zoo4m8

goochy wrote: »

Good riddance . Who would pay 70k for a new one ! Love discoveries and range Rovers but unless your going off road alot defender one of worst vehicles I can buy - horrible interior . Horrible to drive and over priced.

Next best thing to a tractor off-road but anything after that..vile yoke!
Two stories from both sides of the fence, chap in the yard the other day collecting something in his restored to better than showroom 89 defender, wonderful piece of work and a real credit to him. I said he was keeping it in immaculate condition.. The only reason it's in this condition , he said,is because I hate the shaggin thing and only drive it if I have to..
About eighteen months ago I had reason to drive to Enniskillen ( from Wicklow) in the work Landcruiser , next day I met a friend in his ancient Defender that he has had since God was a teenager and told him where I had been, I said it just felt like driving to Bray( five miles away) he said ,in this yoke driving to Bray feels like driving to Enniskillen but I still love it!

kev1.3s

Zoo4m8 wrote: »

Next best thing to a tractor off-road but anything after that..vile yoke!
Two stories from both sides of the fence, chap in the yard the other day collecting something in his restored to better than showroom 89 defender, wonderful piece of work and a real credit to him. I said he was keeping it in immaculate condition.. The only reason it's in this condition , he said,is because I hate the shaggin thing and only drive it if I have to..
About eighteen months ago I had reason to drive to Enniskillen ( from Wicklow) in the work Landcruiser , next day I met a friend in his ancient Defender that he has had since God was a teenager and told him where I had been, I said it just felt like driving to Bray( five miles away) he said ,in this yoke driving to Bray feels like driving to Enniskillen but I still love it!

Had a series 1 back in the day and loved driving it but it was simply a pleasure vehicle. I've always hankered after a defender for work but been put off by people telling me how bad they are to drive but I think this year I'm going to take the chance, horses for courses I suppose.

Tae laidir

Over-priced ancient status symbol:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qglqhHmbM6g
(Enjoy the last 90 seconds)

kaizersoze

Tae laidir wrote: »

Over-priced ancient status symbol:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qglqhHmbM6g
(Enjoy the last 90 seconds)

Staged by the look of it.

Thinkingaboutit

My Dad disliked them when working for the ESB, not that reliable. He much preferred the Japanese alternatives.

Merrion

I have owned 2 LWB models and absolutely had a blast in them.

In my experience they are absolutely not comfortable, are very thirsty and you will need to know how a spanner works to get the most out of them but used for what they are intended for there is no better beast.

I learnt to drive in the first one and managed to hit a dry stone wall at about 40 miles an hour in it.

It took me ages to rebuild that wall!