Land Rover Classic has pulled the wraps off its latest limited-run creation, the Defender V8 Churchill Edition. Just 10 will ever be made, each hand-built at Classic Works in Coventry, England. Every example will be finished in Bronze Green paint matched from Sir Winston Churchill’s personal 1954 Series I.
Churchill, of course, was Britain’s wartime prime minister during World War II. He led the country through the Blitz, steered the Allied strategy with Roosevelt and Stalin, and became the face of Britain’s defiance. By 1954, as a tribute to his tremendous leadership, Land Rover presented him with a Series I for his 80th birthday.
That particular example was fitted with a wider seat and a leather grab handle for comfort on his Chartwell estate, and it remained in the family until the 1970s. Today, it lives in Switzerland’s Emil Frey Classics Museum, where Land Rover engineers studied it closely to recreate the Churchill Edition.
Unique details on the Churchill Edition include Satin black wing panels, a galvanised front bumper, a Series I-inspired mesh grille, and steel wheels finished in Bronze Green, all paying homage to the original. The decals read “UKE 80,” the registration of Churchill’s Series I, while a unique Churchill badge sits on the tailgate. Inside, Bottle Green Bridge of Weir leather is paired with Windsor Ebony trim, capped by a bespoke Pol Roger-inspired clock, a subtle nod to Churchill’s preferred Champagne.
Despite the classic styling, under the skin, this limited-run model packs a familiar 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V8 that produces 400 horsepower and pairs with a ZF eight-speed automatic. The 90 will hit 60 mph in 5.9 seconds, while the 110 will get there in just over six. Modern Eibach springs, Bilstein dampers, and Alcon brakes bring the ride and stopping power up to modern standards. In terms of off-road hardware, every example will feature a two-speed transfer box, heavy-duty front and rear differentials, and a torque-biased centre diff.
Pricing starts at £232,500 (around $295,000) for the 90 Station Wagon, and £242,500 ($308,000) for the Soft Top, and £246,000 ($312,000) for the 110 Station Wagon. Compare that to a brand-new Defender in the U.S., starting around $77,000, and you see just how steep the premium is. But that’s not the point. These hand-built models are all about rarity and designed to cater to a select group of collectors.
While a thriving resto-mod scene around classic Defenders already exists, the appeal of such special editions from Land Rover itself is far more than just nostalgia. It’s in having an official VIN-matched build from Solihull, not an aftermarket imitation.
Land Rover continues to produce limited-edition models long after the classic Defender line ended in 2016. Back in April, we reported on Land Rover unveiling the Classic Defender V8 Soft Top, a factory-backed tribute to the cult NAS Defenders of the 1990s. Be it the Trophy, Islay, Soft Top, or now the Churchill Edition, these limited-run commissions combine heritage cues and exclusivity with modern drivability.
Source: Land Rover Classic
