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

Land Rover Classic has revealed a bespoke set of remastered Classic Defender V8 models while broadening its restoration portfolio with two additional body styles. The latest project showcases a special colour-shifting exterior finish and introduces the Defender 110 Double Cab Pick-Up and Defender 90 Hard Top as fresh commissioning 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 between shades of green, purple and gold depending on the surrounding light and viewing angle.

The company claims that every Defender underwent nearly 400 hours of work in its dedicated paint facility, including body preparation, paint application, colour matching and finishing.

The unique Spectral Green finish is also applied to the 18-inch diamond-cut Sawtooth alloy wheels, exterior emblems and sections of the dashboard.An Icy White roof, expedition cage, bonnet script and hand-painted coachlines contrast the exterior. Inside, the cabin features Bridge of Weir semi-aniline Vanilla leather upholstery with green contrast stitching. Leather-bound Superwool carpets and Defender-branded floor mats complete the interior.

Alongside this one-off commission, Land Rover Classic has expanded the Classic Defender V8 programme by adding the 110 Double Cab Pick-Up and the two-seat 90 Hard Top to its body style options. These join the existing 90 Station Wagon, 90 Soft Top and 110 Station Wagon. The company has 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 equaliser.

Customers can additionally specify a reversing camera integrated into the rear bumper or an optional rear step.Customisation choices have also increased with new roof paint finishes, extra colour options for the 16-inch heavy-duty Wolf wheels and the addition of a Trophy Pack. This package brings Narvik Black Gloss treatment for the bonnet, roof, rear door assembly and wheel arches to create a more contrasting appearance.

The latest bespoke project demonstrates the extensive personalisation available through Land Rover Classic’s Works Bespoke programme, allowing owners to tailor almost every detail of their Defender, including bespoke paint colours inspired by personal objects, natural scenery or vehicles from their own collection.Powering the Classic Defender V8 is a naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 petrol engine, delivering 405 PS and 515 Nm of torque.

The engine comes paired with an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission. The company says that the Classic has also comprehensively re-engineered the chassis to match the increased performance. The SUV features revised suspension geometry, upgraded springs, recalibrated dampers and stronger anti-roll bars for improved ride and handling.

A reworked steering setup enhances driver feedback, while larger 335 mm front and 300 mm rear brake discs, supported by four-piston callipers, provide improved stopping power.Every Classic Defender V8 is created exclusively on commission and assembled by hand by Land Rover Classic’s specialist technicians. Production begins with an original Defender manufactured at the Solihull facility between 2012 and 2016, which is carefully selected before entering the restoration process.The donor vehicle is then stripped down to its core before being rebuilt from the ground up. Throughout the restoration, components are restored, upgraded or replaced to meet present-day standards for performance, durability and quality. The final product features classic Defender styling with modern engineering enhancements and also has a one-year unlimited mileage warranty.