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ONE of the world’s most-loved vehicles has taken its final bow as the last Land Rover Defender rolled off the production line in the marque’s factory in Solihull, England, at 9.22am on January 29.
The last of the iconic 4x4s, dubbed H166 HUE after its license plate number, signalled the end of 68 continuous years of production at the facility that has seen more than two million of the boxy delights assembled.
Originally created as the Land Rover Series in 1948, the Defender name came into being in 1990. The parent company has announced its intention to launch a replacement ‘new Defender’ down the line, with an expected unveiling to take place later this year.
Nick Rogers, group engineering director at Jaguar Land Rover, said: “We all have personal memories of the Defender. It’s a true motoring icon and is much-loved around the globe. The world has changed dramatically in the last 68 years, but this vehicle has remained a constant – something no other vehicle can claim.
“The last of the current Defender models embraces the vehicle’s simplicity, honesty and charm, which represents its Series Land Rover heritage. Creating the Defender of tomorrow is the next exciting chapter and we are looking forward to taking on that challenge.”
The final traditional vehicle was unveiled during a special ‘Defender Celebration’ event, which saw more than 25 unique vehicles from Land Rover’s history come together in a procession around the plant. This prized possession will not go on general sale, but instead be housed in the Jaguar Land Rover Collection.
But it’s not just back in the UK where the Defender is being celebrated. The model has been a popular choice for Bahrain’s motor enthusiasts too, and one proud owner expressed his angst over the iconic vehicle’s final journey.
Rashid Alabsi, from Sanad, bought his first Defender from a friend in 1976 and has cherished it ever since. He explained: “I’ve always had a huge soft spot for the Defender since I was born. My father, Zuhair, had one and I used to love riding in it when I was a boy.
“As soon as I got my driving license, I wanted my own classic-looking Land Rover. It just so happened that a friend of mine was selling a Defender. He’d had one in his garage for four years and hadn’t used it, so I bought it off him and repaired it.
“I fixed everything with original parts from the UK, and ever since I have made sure to keep it in pristine condition. Every year, a local car show contacts me and asks me to donate my Defender for a couple of days so it can go on display for the public to admire.
“I can’t believe they have made the decision to stop making them like this. It upsets me that such an original, classic car and another important page of the industry’s history book has now been closed. It might come back under a new guise, but it won’t be the same in my opinion.”
For now, it’s a case of let’s wait and see. Euro Motors, the marque’s distributor in the kingdom has promised to keep Motoring Weekly up-to-date with developments. For further details call 17750850.
Factfile
Land Rover specialises in four-wheel-drive vehicles owned by British multi-national car manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover, which in turn has been owned by India’s Tata Motors since 2008.
The Land Rover name was originally used by the Rover Company for the Land Rover Series, launched in 1948. It developed into a brand encompassing a range of models, including the Defender, Discovery, Freelander, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Range Rover Evoque.
