Land Rover Classic has just pulled the wraps off something special: the Classic Defender V8 Works Bespoke Soft Top. In plain English? It’s the return of the most desirable Defender variant ever made. Hand-built, V8-powered, and roof-optional. This is not a modern wannabe—it’s based on the real deal, original Defenders built in Solihull.

The Soft Top Is Back

Soft-top Defenders have always been in demand. From the legendary NAS 90s of the ‘90s to the last ragtops that rolled out in 2016, they’ve had cult status for years. Now, for the first time since then, Land Rover Classic is officially offering one again—built under their new Works Bespoke programme that launched last year.

Only available on the short-wheelbase ‘90’ chassis, the new Soft Top mixes proper off-road grit with top-down freedom. It’s not a toy or a tribute. It’s the real thing, reborn.

Every unit starts life as a Defender built between 2012 and 2016, cherry-picked by the Classic team. Then it’s stripped down and rebuilt—piece by piece—to modern OEM standards. The result: a Defender that drives better, rides smoother, and looks sharper than ever.

V8 Power, Naturally

Under the bonnet? A proper 5.0-litre petrol V8. 405 horsepower. 515Nm of torque. Bolted to an eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox. That’s right—this thing moves. Smoothly. Effortlessly. And loudly, if you ask nicely.

To keep things tidy when the hammer drops, Land Rover has uprated the suspension and brakes, too. You’re looking at revised coil spring rates, Bilstein dampers, and Eibach anti-roll bars, all tuned specifically for the 90 Soft Top. The anchors are Alcon four-piston units—335mm up front, 300mm at the rear—so stopping isn’t optional, it’s immediate.

Canvas, Colour, and Character

Let’s talk tops. The Soft Top hood is bespoke—designed to mirror the final factory ragtop from 2016. Four colours: Black (standard), Sand, Dark Khaki, and Navy. The whole thing zips, rolls, folds, and fastens with authentic tie-downs and webbing, and Land Rover even added extra securing points to keep it from flapping about at motorway speeds.

Fancy something sleeker? Go for the Bikini Hood. It just covers the front seats and comes in all the same colours.

Paint? You’ve got 49 shades to choose from, or they’ll match whatever sample you bring in. Your call. Want it in moss green to match your old Series truck? Done. Bright orange? Still done.

As Dominic Elms, Director at Land Rover Classic, put it:

“With the Classic Defender V8 Soft Top, we provide an even greater opportunity to turn Classic Defender V8 dreams into reality. 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 – the people who know it best.”

Build It Your Way

Customisation is the name of the game here. Grille, door handles, bonnet script—all up for grabs. Wheels? Take your pick between 16-inch Wolf wheels (in Black or Limestone) or 18-inch Sawtooths. The interior is just as versatile: five monotone leather options, eight duo-tone combos, and custom finishes ranging from classic to “hang on, you put what in there?”

We’re talking onboard wine coolers, custom surfboard racks, and pretty much anything else you can dream up. If your Defender vision includes Garnet red leather and a coffee machine in the back, it’s probably doable.

So What’s the Damage?

It starts at £195,000, plus whatever taxes your corner of the world adds. Every build gets a one-year, unlimited mileage warranty, and support comes from the folks who built it—either at Land Rover Classic in Coventry or their base in Essen, Germany.

No two will be the same. That’s kind of the point.

Final Word

This isn’t nostalgia. It’s resurrection. The Classic Defender V8 Soft Top is loud, fast, and entirely bespoke—built by the people who made the originals, for people who actually use them. If you’re the sort of driver who’d rather sip coffee under canvas than read about lifestyle trends in a brochure, this one’s for you.

If I had the coin, I’d be ordering mine in Trident Green with a Sand canvas top, Black leather upholstery and canvas seat covers.

And yes, I’d drive it like I stole it.

LAND ROVER CLASSIC

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It seems that JLR doesn’t want to miss out on the opportunities either as their heritage division, Land Rover Classic, continues to uphold the spirit of the past by introducing handmade limited edition models – some of them powered by the most impressive V8s.

At this year’s Goodwood Revival, Land Rover Classic introduced a curated new collection of original OEM quality parts and accessories for the Classic Defender. Let’s face it, the Classic Defender (with its legacy reaching back to 1948 and no less than 70 years of global expedition history) is surely the original adventure vehicle.

The selection of new parts and accessories was showcased on their stand in the ‘Over The Road’ area of the Goodwood Revival. Five vehicles made up the display, led by the Expedition Camper from Land Rover Classic.  

The ultimate camping vehicle features a new Land Rover Classic approved interior conversion from partner The Ply Guys, and a similarly officially approved new roof tent from TentBox, which will be available early next year, on the outside.

The Expedition Camper by Land Rover Classic was joined at the event by a Black Pack equipped Classic Defender 110 Hard Top, a heritage themed 90 Station Wagon, and two Trophy support trucks clad in accessories from the exclusive Land Rover Classic Trophy I and Trophy II client events.

Glen Kelly, Head of Parts and Accessories, Land Rover Classic: “In the Expedition Camper, the team have created a stunning vehicle that showcases the adventure capability of the iconic Classic Defender. Alongside this vehicle, was an impressive display of our official authentic Land Rover Classic parts and accessories, fitted to a variety of different Classic Defenders, all with individual looks to suit different tastes. We are reacting constantly to customer demand for OEM quality items in the aftermarket, and engineer and source our parts and accessories to the highest standards. Both The Ply Guys and TentBox are ideal partners as they both clearly share our commitment to quality, and love the Classic Defender as much as our customers do.“

EXPEDITION READY

The Expedition Camper by Land Rover Classic features several new products available via Classic’s extensive catalogue of parts and accessories – all designed to make the Classic Defender the perfect companion for overland trips. It combines a bespoke approved interior conversion from specialists, The Ply Guys, and a curated collection of official original exterior additions alongside a new roof tent installation from experts TentBox.  

The Expedition Camper’s exterior features a range of accessories designed to enhance the capability and durability of Classic Defender, including a Land Rover Approved TentBox Cargo roof tent. It features unique heritage branding on the front and rear of the tent shell, with unique Desert Sand colourway and branding for the tent canvas, referencing the equipment used in Land Rover expeditions from the past. It will be compatible with both the Classic Defender 90 and 110 when it is launched in early 2024 and will ensure a comfortable night’s sleep, wherever clients choose to set up camp.

EXTERIOR FEATURES

• TentBox Cargo Roof Tent (available early 2024)   
• LED headlamps  
• Sidesteps 
• Black Sawtooth wheels with black centre caps 
• Black exterior pack – grille, headlight surrounds, metal heritage badging – and Black bolt kit 

Other enhancements delivered by the specialist team at Land Rover Classic include a bespoke interior, consisting of premium front seats with contrast stitching in yellow and electric blue piping, tied in with Harris Tweed on the centre console and the rear benches. The fully approved conversion by camper specialists, The Ply Guys, ensures the Defender is ready for anything. The hand-crafted furniture is built with adventure in mind, featuring modular components that can be specified in one of many combinations.

INTERIOR FEATURES

• Land Rover Urlar floor –Black Hexa 12mm with pinstripe detailing 
• Croch Suas ceiling with integrated downlights – 6.5mm Natural Birch with engraving detail 
• Land Rover Torridon Cook Station with slide out storage  
• Gairdean Land Rover Cubby Box – bespoke version for Land Rover Classic 
• Land Rover Expedition Unit – Low level pull out drawer with lockers. In Black Hexa birch ply  
• Land Rover 110 Kitchen Module – Low level worktop with top down access hatches. Flip up prep/work benches.  
• Harris Tweed upholstery – For base cushions and infill cushions

CUSTOM DESIGNED

The Expedition Camper wasn’t the only unique Classic Defender at The Revival this year. It was joined by a Black Pack equipped 110 Hard Top with a combination of official parts and accessories that showcased the level of personalisation possible from Land Rover Classic; including Black Exterior Pack, 18-inch diamond-cut Sawtooth alloy wheels, LED lights, and Expedition roof rack and ladder. Inside, a leather steering wheel and 60th Anniversary edition SVX alloy gear knob and transfer box knob provide a premium finish.  

A 90 Station Wagon with a heritage look provided an entirely different character on the stand at Goodwood Revival. It features bright silver finishes for an understated luxury aesthetic, including the Silver Exterior Pack and silver painted 16-inch Wolf steel wheels. Contemporary LED rear lights and a Rubber Loadspace Liner enhance practicality and protection.  

A pair of Defender Trophy Support Trucks were also on display. Each built to support the exclusive Classic Land Rover Trophy I and Trophy II client events, they are fitted with parts that elevate the capability and enhance the look of classic Defender models, which are now available to customers: 

The Trophy I Tribute Pack includes a Heritage grille with metal heritage badge. A-Frame nudge bar and installation kit, integrated winch and winch bumper, plus distinctive painted 16-inch Wolf steel wheels.

The Trophy II Tribute Pack includes an adventure front grille and metal heritage badge, complemented by black Defender script and headlamp surrounds. There is also an eye-catching full Expedition Camo wrap, with black 18-inch Sawtooth alloy wheels, an integrated winch and winch bumper, and mudflaps with white heritage logos.

This collection of unique, individual vehicles showcases the full breadth of the Land Rover Classic parts and accessories catalogue, catering for customers who demand OEM engineered parts in the aftermarket, that deliver the opportunity to customise and enjoy the Classic Defender as it should be.

LAND ROVER CLASSIC

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Land Rover Classic has revealed its first heritage themed special edition Defender – the Classic Defender Works V8 Islay Edition. The themed edition celebrates both the remarkable Spencer Wilks, Managing Director of the Rover Car Company and one of the founders of Land Rover, and the Isle of Islay, Scotland, where the Land Rover name was born, as contributors to the unrivalled legacy of Defender.

The Classic Defender Works V8 Islay Edition is inspired by a Series IIa Land Rover owned and used by Spencer Wilks, that now forms part of the Land Rover Classic collection, and the Hebridean island where he holidayed.

The Wilks’ Laggan Estate on Islay was used to test early prototypes and in 1947, while driving his heavily modified Rover across the rugged landscape, the estate’s gamekeeper remarked that it must be a “Land Rover”, thus the name was born.

Based on the same technical specification as the Classic Defender Works V8, the Islay Edition is powered by a 405hp 5.0-litre V8 petrol engine mated to an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission. Each one is comprehensively restored, re-engineered and upgraded, utilising donor vehicles from 2012-2016. Each carefully crafted and hand-assembled vehicle provides a unique proposition to discerning clients looking for a truly luxurious, comprehensively engineered, collectible classic Defender, direct from the original manufacturer.

The Works V8 Islay Edition will be limited to 30 examples, all Station Wagons, with 17 available as a 90 short wheelbase and 13 available as a seven-seat 110 version.

Paul Barritt, Director of Land Rover Classic, said: “In 2023, we celebrate 75 years of Land Rover. Spencer Wilks and the Isle of Islay are an important part of our history, and the Classic Defender Works V8 Islay Edition is a fitting way to help us celebrate a landmark anniversary. It references a special vehicle in our collection, Spencer Wilks’ beautiful Series IIa, and is influenced by the special products and incredible nature of Islay itself. The authenticity, modern engineering, and exquisite execution from our skilled engineers and technicians, make this limited-edition Classic Defender a very special vehicle for our discerning clients looking for the ultimate heritage Land Rover.”

TIMELESS EXTERIOR

The Classic Defender Works V8 Islay Edition is finished in Heritage Grey – informed by the Mid Grey paint of Wilks’ original vehicle – with a contrast roof and heavy-duty steel wheels finished in Limestone. The wheelarches are also finished in Heritage Grey for an even more refined exterior design.
Traditional Land Rover logos and badging are finished in body colour and there’s a classic-style grille, familiar from the run-out Defender Heritage Limited Edition, while rear mudflaps also feature the iconic heritage branding.

Unique to the Works V8 Islay Edition is a side graphic reading ‘GXC 639C’ – the registration of Wilks’ Series IIa – which provides a subtle nod to the vehicle that inspired this themed version of the ultimate classic Defender.

As has been the case for previous editions of Defender Works V8s, the Islay Edition features modern enhancements including LED headlights for enhanced visibility. These technical additions extend to comprehensive enhancements under the skin, which include uprated suspension and braking systems, tailored for superior on-road performance and dynamics.

AUTHENTIC INTERIOR

The interior of the Classic Defender Works V8 Islay Edition is where the vehicle’s connection to the Isle of Islay, the origins of Land Rover (including the genesis of the Land Rover name itself), really comes to life, with thoughtful touches and incredible attention to detail.

Luxurious Land Rover Windsor Ebony leather covers the Premium Defender seats, side trim, doors, roof lining and dashboard. A body colour detail surrounds the centre console and Classic Infotainment System, the latter incorporates modern functionality such as satellite navigation, DAB radio and Bluetooth into an original display and facia. The same Heritage Grey body colour surrounds the pistol shifter gearlever for the eight-speed ZF automatic transmission.

Beside the gearlever is a plaque detailing the story of how the Land Rover name came to be, when the estate gamekeeper, Ian Duncan, is reported to have exclaimed to Wilks – who was testing a heavily modified Rover that would become the Series I on Islay’s Laggan Estate – that it must be the new “Land” Rover he was driving. In addition, the Land Rover heritage logo is embossed on the steering wheel and seat headrests. Meanwhile, unusually for a Classic Defender, all the footwells are carpeted for an added touch of luxury.

The links to the Isle of Islay are weaved into the thoughtful details found throughout the interior. The shoulder area of the seats, sections of the door cards, the lid of the central armrest and detail hidden behind the sun visor are all finished in a tactile specially chosen tweed, crafted by the Islay Woollen Mill – providing a unique connection to the location and its place in Defender’s history.

The pattern of the tweed features an earthy base that echoes the local landscape. Land Rover Classic chose colours to represent the area, with blue for the sea and the sky of Islay, purple to reference the local heather, and a subtle yellow chosen to reference the peaty grassy landscape. The special fabric also features on a unique pouch in the centre cubby, for stowing small items such as a smartphone.
The central stowage space features a bespoke detail that strengthens the link back to Islay. Its removable tray, complete with leather tabs, features the oak of whisky barrels sourced from the islands award winning Kilchoman Distillery.

Each tray features a unique 110mm wooden disc replicating the end of a whisky barrel and is made from a specific piece of the wood that displays the authentic stencilled lettering, meaning every vehicle is a one of a kind. The disc is set into the tray, which is finished in American Walnut wood veneer to complement the whisky barrel oak, with beautiful dovetail joints for an exquisite finish. The specially crafted surround showcases the distillery and Woollen Mill in the same stencilled font, just like a genuine whisky barrel – and includes the official Land Rover 75th anniversary logo. The base of each cup holder is also made from the whisky barrel wood.

Kilchoman Distillery has a family connection to Spencer Wilks, whose granddaughter Kathy Wills established the distillery with her husband, Anthony, in 2005, providing an authentic link between the original vehicle’s heritage, its namesake, the beautiful island and the unique features found in the Classic Defender Works V8 Islay Edition. A ‘639’ limited edition whisky is also being produced in honour of the Defender Islay, and each client will be presented with a bottle to enhance their vehicle’s collectability.

Oak wood veneer detailing extends to the rear loadspace floor, and the beautifully finished and durable feature meets the same rigorous quality and engineering standards as those used on the latest production Range Rovers. The clock on the centre of the dashboard also mirrors the wood grain of the other features.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

The Classic Defender Works V8 Islay Edition uses the same foundations as the Classic Defender Works V8. Each vehicle is a painstakingly restored and rebuilt classic Defender that has been expertly sourced by Land Rover Classic’s specialists.

Donor vehicles date from 2012-2016 and Land Rover Classic installs a modern naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 powertrain with eight-speed ZF automatic transmission. Offering 405hp and 515Nm of torque, performance is effortless.

The Islay Edition – like the Works V8 – will accelerate from 0-60mph in 5.6 seconds, while top speed is rated at 106mph. Every example is specially selected and reengineered, with the Defender Suspension Upgrade Kit comprising uniquely tuned suspension that’s tailored for enhanced on-road comfort and dynamics, with revised coil spring rate and dampers. The Handling Upgrade Kit is also included, which provides uprated Works V8 specification brake discs, pads and calipers for enhanced stopping power.
The Defender Islay Edition is priced from £230,000 for the 90, and £245,000 for the 110.

LAND ROVER

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