Top Off: Land Rover’s Classic Defender V8 Goes al Fresco
There comes a moment in every person’s life when he or she finally realizes that yes — life is simply too short to drive a sensible SUV. Whenever that moment comes for you (and it will come), know that Land Rover’s Classic Works division is ready and waiting to deliver the wonderfully irreverent drop-top Defender of your dreams.
Land Rover’s Coventry-based Classic Works team specializes in the ultimate Land Rover Series I and Range Rover Reborn restorations. And, just in time for summer, these band of classic-car gurus in Coventry have come up with something new. Or, rather, something old: the Classic Defender V8 Soft Top. It’s back from automotive history, born again like one of the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park, only this time stronger. The company claims the Defender V8 Soft Top is the most desirable vintage Defender, and we’re inclined to agree.
“We work with clients to provide a one‑to‑one bespoke service, so they can enjoy their vehicle safe in the knowledge it has been designed and engineered exclusively for them, by the original manufacturer.”
Dominic Elms, Director of Land Rover Classic
It’ll work just as nicely on an impromptu Safari as it will getting a tan whilst en-route to the office. If you’re not smiling whilst driving this thing, there’s something wrong.
This isn’t just any old soft top Defender, either. This is a hand-built homage to the legendary NAS (North American Spec) short-wheelbase Defender 90. Those 1990s icons now fetch eye-watering prices at auction, which helps make the $361,500 (£195,000) price somewhat more understandable. from the ’90s, those North American-spec Defenders that now fetch obscene prices at auction. Think of it like a rare vintage Patek but with significantly more mud-splatter potential.
“With the Classic Defender V8 Soft Top, we provide an even greater opportunity to turn Classic Defender V8 dreams into reality,” said Dominic Elms, the director of Land Rover Classic. “At Land Rover Classic, we work with clients to provide a one‑to‑one bespoke service, so they can enjoy their vehicle safe in the knowledge it has been designed and engineered exclusively for them, by the original manufacturer,” he added.
Many companies offer refurbished or restomodded old Land Rovers these days, but there’s only one company that knows every nut and rusty old bolt on these SUVs: the company that built them in the first place, of course.
Each Classic vehicle begins life as a 2012-2016 Defender before the good people at Land Rover Classic strip it down and rebuild it with all the care of a great tailor. Hundreds of hours of labour go into each build.
Under the hood is a modern V8 producing 405 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque, mated to ZF’s brilliant eight-speed automatic transmission. This old box will go from 0-100 km/h in under 6.0 seconds, but speed is not the point. Taking it easy in this thing is all the thrill a driver needs, although we suggest you sport appropriate headwear lest you arrive at your destination looking like you’ve had your head stuck in a wind tunnel.
The Classic Works team has upgraded virtually everything — suspension, brakes, interior — while maintaining the Defender’s slab-sided silhouette. Inside, you’ll find soft new leather in colours like Caraway and Liberty Blue.
The topless Land Rover’s bespoke hood comes in four colours — Black, Sand, Dark Khaki, and Navy — and is designed to stay firmly attached even at highway speeds. (Just don’t expect it to be quiet. A Range Rover this isn’t.) For those who prefer an even more minimalist look, there’s also a smaller “Bikini Hood” option that protects just the front seats. It’s perfect for those sunny countryside jaunts where your backseat passengers are of the canine variety. Other options include an onboard wine cooler and custom surfboard rack, because why not?
Is the new/old drop-top Land Rover Classic absurd? Without doubt. Is it at the top of our lottery-win shopping list? You bet your Barbour jacket it is. Our only question is when Defender is going to get its act together and make a modern drop-top Defender 90. Come on Coventry, you know you want to.
