Today marks the end of an era as the production of the Land Rover Defender comes to a halt.
IN THE DRIVING SEAT Eric Hadwin in the 1951 Land Rover Series I The 4X4, which is made by Jaguar Land Rover, has been the choice vehicle of Her Majesty the Queen, James Bond in Skyfall and even female tomb raider Lara Croft over the years. It's boxy, robust design has become a quintessential icon of British automotive triumph.
The versatile car has been used by British soldiers in war zones such as Iraq, it is used for serious off-roading all over the world and yet still looks at home on the streets of London.
Eric Hadwin, the proprietor of our local Land Rover dealership in Torver, near Coniston, said: "It really is a sad day and the Defender will be missed by many. Land Rover have committed to building a successor to the outgoing Defender for a new range and they have promised that the new vehicle will do everything the current vehicle does and more.
"Unfortunately it is not going to be available until 2018 and at this stage we do not know what it will look like.
"We are looking forward to the day the new models come in. It should be an exciting time for us and hopefully for all our current Defender customers."
The first Defenders came on to the market just after the Second World War in 1948 and were made from Aluminium, as that was the only metal that was available at the time. Back then, they were produced by the Rover Company and cost well under £500. The Queen received her first Land Rover Defender in 1952 and has been driving them ever since.
Since that first model there have been many updates on the iconic vehicle. For Mr Hadwin, the Defender holds a special place in his heart. He said:
"Land Rover continued updating the vehicle right up to the latest Puma model. There was the series 1—2—2a—2b—3—then the Defender right up to today all made in long and short wheel base plus some Forward control models.
"The picture of the blue Series One Defender you can see next to my son Jason has recently been totally rebuilt by him and he intends to drive it round the coast of Briton with his wife, when they get time!
"I was lucky recently and had the privilege of having a tour round the factory and seeing a reproduction of the original assembly line. It was a real eye opener especially when you see the current assembly line."
- Are you a current or former owner of a Land Rover defender? Email a picture of yourself with it to james.hemsworth@nwemail.co.uk and we'll include it in the gallery below.
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