Land Rover Monthly April 2017

“Perhaps it should become known as Defender Day from now on” Time flies when Land Rover are not producing the iconic Defenders anymore. On the day that we shot the cover feature (see page 44) for this issue, exactly 365 days had passed since the last Defender rolled off the production floor at Solihull on January 29, 2016 at 9.22 am. That memorable day a total of 20 last-off-the-line Defenders were produced. Perhaps it should become known as Defender Day from now on – do you agree? The cover feature is all about our search for the Defenders that marked the end of an era. Sadly we were not able to track them all down, as many were sold through dealerships, and that information is not for public consumption. However,…

The Rétromobile Salon in February this year saw the world debut presentation of the next in the Reborn series of expertly sourced and comprehensively restored Classic Land Rovers. Capturing the imaginations of the world’s automotive media at the annual classic car show in Paris, the factory-restored 1978 three-door Range Rover Classic builds on the successful introduction of the Land Rover Series I Reborn project that was introduced last year. Finished in the oh-so-seventies but period correct colour of Bahama Gold, the 3528 cc V8 Zenith-Stromgberg 175CD type engine has been overhauled to develop its original 132 bhp (at 5000 rpm) and 186 lb ft of torque (at 2500 rpm) through a four-speed manual transmission. The new programme, which will restore an initial ten examples of the luxury SUV, gives customers…

A giant, multinational company is pressing ahead with plans to design and build a rugged 4x4, following the demise of the Defender last year. INEOS – a £35 billion turnover chemical company – announced the idea of a rugged 4x4 in summer of 2016: “I am a great admirer of the old Land Rover Defender and have enormous respect for its off-road capability,” said Jim Ratcliffe, INEOS Chairman, (pictured right) “and our new 4x4 has been inspired by it. But while our off-roader might share its spirit, our new car will be a major improvement on previous models.” Now, following a six month study, INEOS is pushing ahead with its plan to create the new car. It says it is now talking to its potential customers to ensure it builds…

Bill Baker, who played a key role in Land Rover’s successful return to the American market in 1986, died aged 72 on February 16 from cancer at his home near Laguna Niguel, California. His road tests, which aired in Cleveland during the early 1970s, caught the attention of Ford who offered Bill a job on its broadcast media relations team. Two years later, he moved to Volvo, before holding management positions at Fiat-Lancia and Ferrari and later working for Chrysler. It wasn’t until 1986 however, when he became the first American employee of Land Rover of North America in 1986. He was given a small budget to promote the Range Rover, which at that time very few Americans had ever heard of. This new vehicle and brand, was also creating…

Following the success of the Vivaro Siberia Challenge in which three injured ex-soldiers joined Max Adventure on a 12,000 mile overland expedition to Far East Russia, the company has launched Driven to Extremes, an initiative to help more veterans suffering from PTSD. The first expedition, Feel Low, Drive High, is to Europe’s highest village – Ushguli, Georgia, under the peak of Mount Shkhara. This 6000 mile adventure in July will see veterans tackle the stunning passes of the Caucuses Mountains before returning via Stalingrad and Moscow. Fund raising for these adventures includes a 10-day 4x4 Rally in which participants will drive their own vehicles to the most extreme northerly point of the UK – Skaw in the Shetland Islands. Starting at Glencoe and finishing in Inverness, the 10 day trip…

Nearly two weeks after a film-style heist at Jaguar Land Rover’s Solihull plant four men aged 29, 40, 47 and 56 were arrested. The gang had struck shortly after 10.30pm on Tuesday, January 31, by driving through manned security gates in a stolen HGV lorry and in full view of security cameras, before leaving with a trailer full of engines in less than six minutes. Astonishingly, the same lorry returned some hours later and hooked up to another trailer to steal more engines. The engines reportedly worth £3 million were seized at locations in Kingsbury Road, Minworth, and Bermuda Industrial Park, in Nuneaton, on Monday, police said, and will be forensically examined by specialist officers. JLR said it was offering a reward for information about the theft. The plant was…