The end of 2015 brings with it the end of an automotive era. After 67 years of continuous production, the original Land Rover, now known as the Defender, is being put out to pasture.
To mark the passing of what is considered the world's first true SUV, parent company Jaguar Land Rover has been working with a host of renowned figures over the course of the year on a number of bespoke examples -- from Sir Paul Smith's multi-colored countryside-inspired model to a special version adapted specifically for the safe carriage of the Rugby Word Cup trophy on a tour of the UK.
However, it's saved the best until last. The Defender 2,000,000 was hand built with help from 33 Land Rover ambassadors including adventurer Bear Grylls and charities the Red Cross and the Born Free Foundation.
The finished car will be auctioned for charity on December 15 and 16 by Bonhams in London as part of a two-day exhibition celebrating the life and times of the automotive icon.
"Through the creation of the exhibition we have really got under the skin of just what has made Defender such a loved vehicle. We hope that the exhibition really brings to life the richness of the vehicle's heritage and why it has had such longevity," said Roger Crathorne. Known as ‘Mr Land Rover,' Crathorne has worked for the company for over 50 years, was part of the development team on the original Range Rover and was the man tasked with teaching the royal family how to take a Land Rover off-road.
"The Series Land Rover and Defender have played a huge role in the lives of people all over the world for almost 70 years and to be able to offer it a fitting send-off as it nears the end of production is an honor for me," he said.
And touch lives it did. Designed to cope with everything from freshly ploughed fields to mountain passes, like its smarter, more stylish younger brother, the Range Rover, in being extremely good at what it did, the Land Rover became an unwitting automotive icon.
One of the reasons the car is so loved by its fans and that its fan-base is so varied is that in terms of looks and off road performance, the Land Rover has hardly changed at all since making its debut at the Amsterdam motor show in 1948.
As such, it's one of the very few cars that can count on everyone from the British royal family, Sean Connery and Paul McCartney to Jerry Seinfeld, Steve McQueen, Ralph Lauren, Robin Williams and Fidel Castro as fans.
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