Land Rover Classic unveils colour-changing Defender V8: What’s special

Land Rover Classic has revealed a custom set of remastered Classic Defender V8 models as it expands its restoration portfolio with two additional body styles. The latest project showcases a special colour-changing exterior finish and introduces the Defender 110 Double Cab Pick-Up and Defender 90 Hard Top as new launch options. Created for a single customer, the collection consists of the Defender 90 Station Wagon, 90 Soft Top, 110 Station Wagon and the newly available 110 Double Cab Pick-Up. Each vehicle wears a custom Spectral Green paint that changes shades of green, purple and gold depending on the surrounding light and viewing angle.

The company claims that each Defender undergoes almost 400 hours of work in its dedicated paint facility, including body preparation, paint application, color matching and finishing. A unique Spectral Green finish has also been applied to the 18-inch Sawtooth diamond-cut alloy wheels, exterior emblems and parts of the dashboard.The icy white roof, expedition roll cage, hood lettering and hand-painted body lines contrast the exterior. Inside, the cabin features Bridge of Weir semi-aniline leather upholstery in vanilla with green contrast stitching. Defender leather Superwool carpets and floor mats complete the interior.With this one-off commission, Land Rover Classic has expanded the Classic Defender V8 program by adding the 110 Double Cab Pick-Up and the 90 Hard Top two-seater to its body style options. They join the existing 90 Station Wagon, 90 Soft Top and 110 Station Wagon. The company also introduced a new 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system for Classic Defender V8 models. The setup supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as DAB/DAB+ digital radio, Bluetooth connectivity and a 13-band graphic equalizer. Customers can additionally specify a reversing camera integrated into the rear bumper or an optional rear step.Customization options are also increased with new roof colors, additional color options for 16-inch heavy-duty Wolf wheels and the addition of the Trophy Package. This package brings a Narvik Black Gloss treatment to the bonnet, roof, rear door assembly and wheel arches to create a more contrasting look.

The latest bespoke project demonstrates the extensive personalization available through Land Rover Classic’s Works Bespoke programme, allowing owners to tailor almost every detail of their Defender, including custom paint colors inspired by personal items, the natural landscape or vehicles from their own collection.The Classic Defender V8 is powered by a naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 petrol engine that delivers 405PS and 515Nm of torque. The engine comes paired with an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission. The company says the Classic has also had its chassis comprehensively rebuilt to match the increased performance. The SUV has revised suspension geometry, improved springs, recalibrated shock absorbers and stronger anti-roll bars for improved ride and handling. A revised steering setup improves driver feedback, while larger 335mm front and 300mm rear brake discs, assisted by four-piston calipers, provide improved stopping power.Each Classic Defender V8 is exclusively made to order and assembled by hand by Land Rover Classic’s expert technicians. Production begins with an original Defender built at the Solihull factory between 2012 and 2016, which has been carefully selected before entering the restoration process.The donor vehicle is then stripped down to the ground before being rebuilt from the ground up. During restoration, components are renewed, upgraded or replaced to meet today’s standards for efficiency, durability and quality. The final product features classic Defender styling with modern engineering enhancements and also comes with a one-year unlimited mileage warranty.