Description
This lot will be auctioned via Iconic Auctioneers, The Iconic Sale at the NEC Classic Motor Show 2024 - Cars on Saturday the 9th of November, NEC, Birmingham, B40 1NT. Never has there been a car that has so captured the imagination of the world. Land Rovers have saved lives, won wars, delivered aid and ferried injured animals to safety, from the lowliest sheep to the proudest lion. After 67 years of making one of the most iconic off-roaders, Land Rover called time on the Defender, so closely linked in heart, body and soul to the original Series I. To mark the occasion, they launched the final Defender Heritage Series. Limited to just 400, the last ever Land Rover as we have known them rolled off the production line at 9. 15am on 29th January 2015, the 2, 016, 933rd Heritage Defender built at Solihull became the last true Land Rover.
The Heritage Edition has, as standard, an equipment list that's a far cry from the original 1948 Land Rover. Heated seats! The only heated seats this consignor ever experienced in an early Land Rover was after a pair of Labradors had been asleep on them. The list goes on, as you would expect from a modern car, including Bluetooth, electric windows and heated front and rear screens. Subtle cues to the heritage of Land Rover and its elder statesman, HUE 166, are dotted about the car, like the graphics on the wings and tags on the seats, just little reminders and a 'thank you'. They were also issued with a commemorative book and mug.
As an auction house, we are always delighted to see old friends return, whether clients or cars, therefore offering this Land Rover bought from us in 2016 completes the circle nicely. Offered originally from the first registered keeper with delivery mileage, this Heritage Defender was bought by our vendor over the telephone from his West Wales home with a special intention. Unlike the many speculative purchases of the final run of Defenders, this car was bought to keep a promise made to our vendor's daughter years earlier. Like most women, our vendor’s daughter had planned her wedding from a young age and wanted to be conveyed to the church not in a Rolls-Royce, but a Land Rover.
Dry stored under a cover, run up to temperature and taken out for the occasional dry weather run in preparation for the big day, the Land Rover was even given a private registration, as seen in the wedding photograph, that referenced the family farm’s name. All for the big day and with the nuptials having been celebrated this summer, the car is now back on the original registration number and had covered a mere 695 miles at the time of cataloguing. Presented to auction with the aforementioned commemorative items, the V5C displaying just two keepers from new, an advisory free, joining the other previous three, MOT Certificate valid until July 2025 and both keys.
A unique opportunity with a wholesome story.
