Land Rover Defender 75th Limited Edition: A Tribute to its Grandfather

The Land Rover Defender 75th Limited Edition is a tribute to the first Land Rover, which later evolved into the Series I and, several decades later, the Defender. This special edition builds on the top-spec Defender HSE, leaving very few options boxes unticked and donning a commemorative shade of Grasmere Green, modeled on that worn by the first wave of 4x4s to chug out of Solihull. The paint noticeably coats the 20-inch alloys for extra hits of both kerb appeal and kerb aversion. However, for that paint, you’ll pay a premium of nearly £18,000 over the equivalent 110 HSE.

The Land Rover Defender 75th Limited Edition is a pure-bred luxury car with a partly exposed dashboard and exposed screwheads throughout. It features 14-way electrically adjustable, heated and cooled front seats, a refrigerated centre console, a top-flight Meridian sound system, and electronic air suspension that gives pricier Defender models the edge over entry cars in the refinement stakes. This special edition is a spiritual reinterpretation of its 1940s forebear, whose open sides, sparsely furnished cabin, and lackadaisical approach to occupant safety would not make a £90,000 car.

Compared to its Range Rover sibling, the Defender more closely apes the bare-bones ethos of the original Land Rover. However, make no mistake; this is a pure-bred luxury car. Nowhere is this better represented than by this top-speccer. Despite its overt focus on on-road opulence, this remains one of the world’s most capable off-roaders.

The 75th Anniversary edition is available in short-wheelbase 90 guise, and in addition to the D300 diesel tested here, the 110 can be specced with the P400e plug-in hybrid powertrain. However, my vote goes to this indefatigably torquey, oil-burning straight-six, which pairs more-than-agreeable performance with downright impressive economy (0-62mph in 7.0secs and 30.7mpg), and emits barely a whimper at cruising speeds.

As a quick, comfortable, and maybe even collectible family hauler, there’s no denying this special edition’s appeal – even if it is coated in the world’s most expensive paint. However, those who bemoan what the very concept of the Defender has become should look elsewhere. So too, those who want a faster example (the snarling V8 isn’t much more pricey) or a more utilitarian one (you can get a steel-wheeled Hard Top for sub-£60k).

H2: A Tribute to the First Land Rover

The Land Rover Defender 75th Limited Edition is a tribute to the first Land Rover, which later evolved into the Series I and, several decades later, the Defender.

H2: A Premium Price for a Commemorative Shade

For the commemorative shade of Grasmere Green, you’ll pay a premium of nearly £18,000 over the equivalent 110 HSE.

H2: A Pure-Bred Luxury Car

The Land Rover Defender 75th Limited Edition is a pure-bred luxury car with a partly exposed dashboard and exposed screwheads throughout.

H2: Capable Off-Roader

Despite its overt focus on on-road opulence, this remains one of the world’s most capable off-roaders.

H2: Indefatigably Torquey

My vote goes to this indefatigably torquey, oil-burning straight-six, which pairs more-than-agreeable performance with downright impressive economy (0-62mph in 7.0secs and 30.7mpg), and emits barely a whimper at cruising speeds.

H2: Appeal of the Special Edition

As a quick, comfortable, and maybe even collectible family hauler, there’s no denying this special edition’s appeal – even if it is coated in the world’s most expensive paint.

H2: Not for Everyone

However, those who bemoan what the very concept of the Defender has become should look elsewhere. So too, those who want a faster example (the snarling V8 isn’t much more pricey) or a more utilitarian one (you can get a steel-wheeled Hard Top for sub-£60k).