Top Gear’s top five adventures in the Defender

Today, the long and storied career of the venerable Land Rover Defender comes to an end.

After 68 years of production, the last ever Defender will roll off the production line on Friday 28 January 2016, which means no more new, old Defenders. You’ll agree, it’s quite sad.

“Today we celebrate what generations of men and women have done since the outline for the original Land Rover was drawn in the sand,” explains Land Rover CEO Dr Ralf Speth.  

“The Series Land Rover, now Defender, is the origin of our legendary capability, a vehicle that makes the world a better place, often in some of the most extreme circumstances. There will always be a special place in our hearts for the Defender,” he added. 

The story began of course, all those years ago, when Rover engineer Maurice Wilks did indeed trace the Defender’s outline into the sands at Red Wharf Bay near Anglesey. It was unveiled at the Amsterdam motor show in 1948, and went into full series production in Solihull soon after.

It wasn’t until 1990 however, that the name ‘Defender’ even appeared on the car – until then it was badged according to its wheelbase length and Series number.

The original brief of course, was to emulate the Jeep Wilks used to run on his farm. But neither Wilks – nor anyone at Land Rover – could have imagined the success of this hardy little off-roader. Sales began to sky-rocket.

Soon after, a number of bodystyles began appearing, and to date, Land Rover has shifted 2,000,000 Defenders across the world. Not surprising, given its go-anywhere ability and utilitarian cool. From the military to the silver screen via a certain James Bond, it seems everyone is fond of the ol’ girl. Her Majesty the Queen is a big fan, too.

Oh, and that two-millionth model don’t forget, sold last year for £400,000. The first LR sold in 1948 for, um, £450.

But, this is all getting a bit sad. We’ve had some fun in the Defender over the years, and here are our top five adventures. We’ve also included some pictures of the very last, green Defender that has rolled off the production line.

What we say: "It is a bloody enormous truck, unless you’re from Texas, in which case I imagine this looks like a wieldy city car. Regardless, once I’ve scrambled aboard, discovered the bucket seats mean this is the first Defender I’ve driven with something approaching a logical driving position, the next thing that strikes you is that – amazingly – it’s not bad to pootle about it. In fact, I think it’s the best Defender I’ve ever driven..."

Top Gear drives the 007 Spectre Defender

What we say: "There’s something earthy about the Land Rover Defender, like it’s part of the very soil of Britain. Lord knows it’s traversed its fair share of fields and farmland, from Stornoway to Surrey and beyond. It was even conceived in the land, as a sketch in the sand in the Forties, and since then it has weathered wars, carried explorers and been a runabout for the monarchy, James Bond and Sir Winston Churchill. Early versions were painted with military surplus paint left over from Supermarine Spitfires, it was built in a wartime shadow factory, and it soon became a British Army favourite. In fact, it’s hard to imagine anything more patriotic, other than Mary Berry wrapped in a Union Jack bursting out of a giant sponge cake to the strains of Elgar..."

Driving Land Rover's Floating Ninety Defender on a Scottish loch

What we say: "If you were to pick the least appropriate modern vehicle upon which to base a race car, could you top the Land Rover Defender? All those assets prized by race engineers – wieldiness, low centre of gravity, responsive feedback, a modicum of pace – are exactly those shunned by the veteran Defender in favour of swamp-crushing plod and the ability to survive a direct hit from the Death Star’s superlaser. Turning a Defender into a racer is like entering a dromedary into the Grand National.

"But here it is, Champion the Wondercamel, parked up in a muddy quarry, gently bemused TG employee in its driver’s seat gazing over an oxymoronic blend of Defender and race track..."

Going racing in a Land Rover Defender

What we say: "Turns out if you really head into the wilds and go further off the beaten track, then you’ll need a hardcore 4x4. And that car still has a Land Rover badge. The Defender didn’t find it easy, but, because of a mechanical centre diff, every wheel can be locked together, and no torque is wasted by letting wheels spin. If just a single Defender wheel has grip, all four wheels will rotate at that speed. The Duster, in comparison, will happily spin the wheel with least grip..."

Land Rover Defender vs Dacia Duster... on ice

What we say: "How’s the Defender to drive? Unsurprisingly, it’s not as stable as a traditional rally car. You can’t just throw steering lock at it, you actually have to be pretty measured with your inputs to get the best from it. Slow in, get it settled, get it through, get it straight, then apply the power.

"There’s some supercharged shrieking (even inside my helmet this thing sounds properly bonkers), gravel batters the underside, and then you arrive at the next opportunity to have a crash. It’s genuinely hilarious. I wouldn’t say it’s especially responsive or talented, but it’s remarkable for a Defender, especially considering it hasn’t yet had that much development work..."

Racing Bowler's 440bhp supercharged Defender in a hill rally