Land Rover has unveiled a new limited edition of its Defender model inspired by Winston Churchill.
The 4x4 takes inspiration from the wartime prime minister’s Land Rover Series I, which was given to him on his 80th birthday in 1954.
Just 10 Classic Defender V8 Churchill Editions will be made, with prices for the vehicles starting at £232,500. The vehicles are inspired by the Series I, which was presented to Churchill at his Chartwell estate with the registration UKE 80.
The Land Rover featured bespoke modifications to the passenger side, including an extra-wide seat and a heated footwell, as its main purpose was to chauffeur the former prime minister around the 300-acre estate in Kent.
Churchill was once pictured smoking a cigar next to the vehicle, and the Series I remained at Chartwell until his death in January 1965. It was handed down to Christopher Soames, his son-in-law, and remained in the family until 1973.
The car is now in the Emil Frey Classics Museum in Safenwil, Switzerland. Experts from Land Rover Classic visited the museum before creating the new edition of the Defender.
The remastered Defenders will have bronze and green bodywork to match the original vehicle.
They will include a “UKE 80” decal on the front wings and badging on the rear. The dashboard will incorporate a unique clock design, featuring a blue face with a red stripe, which the British carmaker said was inspired by Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill champagne.
Dominic Elms, the managing director at Jaguar Land Rover Classic, said the idea had come from Emil Frey, and that the new models would “subtly capture the essence” of the 1954 vehicle.
He said: “The Classic Defender V8 Churchill Edition is a fantastic example of what’s possible when a client’s idea meets Land Rover Classic experts’ craftsmanship and attention to detail.
“Our Works Bespoke experts have subtly captured the essence of Winston Churchill’s iconic 1954 Land Rover to create these exclusive limited-edition vehicles, which are now being hand-crafted at our world-class restoration home in the UK.”
The Classic Defender V8 Churchill Edition is priced from £232,500 for a 90 Station Wagon, £242,500 for a 90 Soft Top and £246,000 for a 110 Station Wagon.
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