Mix bits from old cars and new cars and the results can be amazing. From retro-styled wonders like the Volkswagen ID. Buzz to restomodded works of art like a Singer-reimagined Porsche. Land Rover Classic loves to do this as well, which is rather easy thanks to the extra-long life of the original Defender.
Now Land Rover Classic is taking something else new and applying it to the old. The restoration and customization branch of the company will build you a classic Defender V8 with the trim and color combination of the brand-new Octa.
The starting point for Land Rover is the Defender V8. Not the original V8 models, which arrived in 1983 with a low-compression version of the 3.5-liter Rover V8 that made an embarrassing 90 horsepower. This is the one that came later.
After the death of the Defender in 2016, Land Rover Classic took on an epic project. It snapped up 2012–2016 models in good shape and then stripped them to nothing. Instead of the lump of iron under the hood from factory, these restored cars got a 399-horsepower 5.0-liter supercharged V8 along with a new eight-speed transmission, bigger brakes, and better everything including new luxury trim inside.
The Classic Defender models were the vehicles that Land Rover couldn’t sell from new. Massive horsepower, a heaping dose of aggression, and a price tag higher than a top-spec Range Rover of the time. A decade later, the company is still making them, and this is its latest. Land Rover Classic wants owners of the modern Defender Octa, with its 626 horsepower 4.4-liter V8, to get a classic to match their modern one.
Based on the Defender 130, the unique truck comes from the AM Group via its coachbuilders Heritage Customs and Urban Automotive.
The company will perfectly match the paint and interior of your Octa for this Classic, including five new exterior colors Petra Copper, Faroe Green, Sargasso Blue, Narvik Black, and Patagonia White. Land Rover will paint them in a gloss finish or add a satin finish to match the optional Matte Protective Film on the Octa. The whole paint process takes around 300 hours to complete.
Inside, new fabric choices include Khaki Green, Light Cloud and Lunar colors of a lightweight Ultrafabrics PU material. Burnt Sienna semi-aniline leather is on the options list, along with Ebony Black leather to match Octa Black editions. Land Rover Classic will install hand-trimmed Recaro sports seats, and it will work with buyers to do nearly anything they might want. That includes matching the steering wheel, transfer case levers, headliner, and more.
The company is quick to mention that, while the point of this is to match your Octa, it’s not a requirement. Land Rover Classic will sell one of these Defenders with Octa paint and interior to anyone who can cover the £190,000 ($254,000) starting price.
Older Land Rover Defenders are worth big money in 2025, and for the same money, you could get a brand-spanking new modern version.
Other options include new infotainment systems, a crystal lighting pack, five wheels in two sizes, and all the Land Rover adventure accessories you can imagine. If you’re looking for a way to pass the rest of the afternoon, you can build your dream spec on Land Rover’s website.
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