Several years ago, in 2018, Land Rover marked its 70th anniversary by introducing the Defender Works V8 collection, a series of last batch sturdy Defenders combining a 399-horsepower, 5.0-liter V8 engine with ZF’s eight-speed automatic transmission, along with all available drivetrain enhancements. Now, Land Rover Classic is preparing to convert another 25 units. These models, available in both 90 and 110 Station Wagon variations, will all showcase an Eastnor Yellow and Narvik Black finish, accompanied by durable 16-inch steel wheels matching the body color to evoke fond memories of the esteemed Camel Trophy era.
The Land Rover Defender Works V8 Trophy also comes with enhanced braking and suspension systems, a front-mounted winch, multi-point expedition cage, roof rack, underbody shielding, A-bar, elevated air intake, spotlights, and off-road tires. Inside, prospective buyers willing to invest a minimum of $267,000 will discover a lavish black Windsor leather interior, complete with Recaro sports seats featuring contrasting yellow stitching and a bespoke Land Rover Trophy timepiece created by Elliot Brown. Additionally, this year, V8 Trophy purchasers will receive an invitation to participate in an exclusive three-day escapade at Eastnor Castle in Herefordshire, identified by Land Rover as “the sacred hub of all-terrain instruction, evaluation, and advancement.”
Land Rover | Nick Dimbleby
As anticipated, the Works V8 Trophy will not be available in North America.
During the years 1981 to 1998, under the sponsorship of Land Rover, the Camel Trophy featured Series III, Defender 90, and 110 vehicles competing for a mere six seasons, before transitioning to support vehicles for a total of 15 Camel Trophy contests. Interestingly, all those fully-equipped Series Land Rovers were powered by four-cylinder diesel engines, rather than gasoline V8s.
The original 3.5-liter Rover V8 initially featured in the Series III Stage 1 V8 in 1979, delivering 90 horsepower. For the One-Tens and Ninety Defenders of the 1980s, Land Rover boosted the V8 output to 113 hp, later further increasing it to 135 hp from 1987 onwards. In the United States, the NAS Defender made its debut in 1992, equipped with a 182-hp, fuel-injected, 3.9-liter V8 engine paired with a four-speed automatic transmission.
In 1998, the real excitement kicked off in Europe when Land Rover introduced a restricted series of 50th Anniversary Defender 90s with V8 powerplants producing 190 horsepower. Two decades later, the 2018 Defender Works V8 managed to more than double the power output with its naturally-aspirated 5.0 engine, coinciding with the discontinuation of the original Land Rover Defender production two years earlier.
Offering just 25 units in the United Kingdom, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Oceania, the Land Rover Defender Works V8 Trophy boasts a robust 399 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 405 pound-feet of torque at 5,000 rpm, channeled through the “Pistol Shifter.” The vehicle is equipped with all-wheel drive, a two-speed transfer case, heavy-duty front and rear differentials, and a torque-sensing center differential.
The steering mechanism features power-assisted recirculating ball steering, paired with live axles upgraded to coil springs and telescopic dampers, supplemented by a Panhard rod, radius arms, and an anti-roll bar up front. At the rear, the vehicle boasts an A-frame, trailing links, and an anti-roll bar. Additionally, the Defender is fitted with four-piston brakes equipped with 335mm/300mm ventilated discs.
rim complete the management kit, while on off-road, you can rely on the steel wheels wrapped in 235/85R16 mud-terrain tires.
