It was the end of the road for the 'Defender' 4x4 utility vehicle made by Tata Motors-owned Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) as the luxury carmaker halted production of the iconic model at its UK plant today.
The last model of the famous 4x4 off-roader rolled off the production line at JLR's Solihull plant in the West Midlands with a celebratory event for 700 current and former employees.
Ralf Speth, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover, described the vehicle as the "origin of our legendary capability, a vehicle that makes the world a better place, often in some of the most extreme circumstances".
"There will always be a special place in our hearts for Defender, among all our employees, but this is not the end. We have a glorious past to champion, and a wonderful future to look forward to," he said.
The Defender celebration at Solihull saw more than 25 unique vehicles from Land Rover's history come together in a procession around the plant, featuring the final current Defender vehicle which came off the line.
The model was launched 68 years ago and was named 'Defender' in the 1990s, being driven by British troops in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Its famous owners include Queen Elizabeth II and former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and the model became a movie star when it featured heavily in the 1966 film 'Born Free' and with James Bond in 'Skyfall'.
Nick Rogers, group engineering director at JLR, said: "It's a true motoring icon and is much loved around the world. The world has changed dramatically in the last 68 years, but this vehicle has remained a constant - something no other vehicle can claim".
More than 2 million Series Land Rovers and Defenders have been built at the Solihull plant since 1948.
"What began as simply a line drawing in the sand has gone on to become one of the world's most iconic 4x4s, earning the accolade of being the most versatile vehicle on the planet, capable of taking owners to the places other vehicles couldn't reach," JLR said.
Land Rover also plans to launch an online "Defender Journeys" platform, which will allow the legendary model to live-on in a digital environment.
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The model was halted to create models more compatible with modern-day automotive emissions and safety standards.
"The last of the current Defender models embraces the vehicle's simplicity, honesty and charm - it represents its Series Land Rover heritage. Creating the Defender of tomorrow, a dream for any engineer or designer, is the next exciting chapter and we are looking forward to taking on that challenge," Rogers said.
Land Rover has also announced a new "Heritage Restoration Programme", which will be based on the site of the existing Solihull production line.
A team of experts, including some long serving Defender employees, will oversee the restoration of a number of Series Land Rovers sourced from across the globe and the first these vehicles will go on sale in July 2016.
Tim Hannig Jaguar Land Rover heritage director, said, "Land Rover Heritage will be offering cars, services, parts and experiences for all owners and fans around the world. Our new restoration service and the sale of expertly restored Series I vehicles is just the start of making sure that classic Land Rovers are not only part of our past but part of our future".
Land Rover has also announced a new "Heritage Restoration Programme", which will be based on the site of the existing Solihull production line.
A team of experts, including some long serving Defender employees, will oversee the restoration of a number of Series Land Rovers sourced from across the globe and the first of these vehicles will go on sale in July.
"In 2015, a unique milestone Defender - the 'Defender 2,000,000' sold for a record 400,000 pounds - a far cry from the original 450 pounds the first Land Rover sold for at the 1948 Amsterdam Motor Show," JLR said.
Land Rover also plans to launch an online "Defender Journeys" platform, which will allow the legendary model to live-on in a digital environment. The online hub will allow owners to upload details of their most memorable journeys in a Series Land Rover or Defender.
The aim is to crowd source journeys from Land Rover drivers and plot them on a single online map, preserving the memories of adventures that have taken place in the iconic 4x4 for future generations.
