BBC Article on the end of defender.

[Wheeledbeast]

I am a huge fan of the defender, but it is a car from the first half of the 20th century that has been nursed into the 21st century. The manufacturing processes are all out of date. Can you imagine trying to re work an Austin A40 to meet all the modern legislation? And then trying to keep the production costs down. If ( big IF) Land Rover are going to stay in this market they need to build something more modern and more affordable to compete with the very capable and cheaply priced opposition from Asian manufactures.

[TACR-1]

Pretty balanced article on LROs site today…

http://www.lro.com/news/land-rover/1601 ... -defender/

Defender production ends 10am tomorrow….

[Wheeledbeast]

I think that is a fair description of the situation too. I am Not sure i agree with their list of wants though




There it is then.

[Titch]

Saw the last one in the flesh tonight at television centre, took a picture of Dad sat in the drivers seat !! FC was an interesting drive through central London.

[DasLandRoverMan]

Well I can't say I'm shocked they've started this one.

http://www.lro.com/news/land-rover/1601 ... nd-rovers/

[22900013A]

I read that they have bought 25 series 1s which will be restored and then sold on.























For £60K

[TACR-1]

They'll sell no doubt - not least because of the 'credibility' of it being done at Solihull by long standing staff. It'll serve as a PR bridge to the new Defender too - they will be able to argue there is no severing of LRs commitment to the Defender (and its predecessors) + how they value their own heritage. Its a bit like Jaguar did with building a handful of lightweight E types (although these were from new). Its pretty clever PR, it says 'we get it too'.

[22900013A]

Yes, PR, without question. I guess a few rock stars and Hollywood actors will buy some...maybe the odd footballer. That is, after all, the kind of market JLR want to sell into.

[Wheeledbeast]

Titch was that you in the background on the "one show"

FC was an interesting drive through central London

I bet it was I went through some years ago on a motorbike. I remember it was a terifying ordeal. i am pretty sure at one point i was overtaking a bus while i was simultaneously being over taken by a taxi and another motorbike was overtaking him it is an awful place to drive.

On the restoration side, i guss they have spotted that the old ones are suddenly three times the price of a new one.... and if you take a classic and give it a new chassis and bukhead, some new body pannels and drive train, then replace the hood and all the glass fit a new loom and wheel and hey presto you have a genuine antique..... i think Trigger had a broom like that

One show land rovers at http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0 ... w-29012016

3:27 to 7:24 and 24:00 to the end at 29:04

I struggled to get a close up look ath the IIB though

[Titch]

Titch was that you in the background on the "one show"

FC was an interesting drive through central London

Yes I got invited by JLR after John Smith told them about it, went along in convoy with prepro no 11 , good evening . usual chaos setting up and I drove a 900 over their drip tray