Land Rover classic defender V8 soft top: Iconic off-road legend reborn with modern power

There are rare moments in automotive history when time folds onto itself, and the echoes of a storied past rise through the haze of memory, carrying with them the soul of yesterday and the spirit of tomorrow. This week, we witnessed one such moment: a Land Rover Defender, resurrected with reverence by the very hands that helped shape its legend. Forged from post-war necessity and tempered by decades of relentless service, the Defender has always worn its rugged soul with pride. With the unveiling of the Classic Defender V8 Soft Top, Land Rover Classic reminds us that true craftsmanship does not merely preserve history – it reawakens it.

Few automotive nameplates have forged as raw and visceral a bond with drivers as the Defender. A symbol of unbreakable spirit – from Warwickshire’s farm tracks to the Sahara’s dunes – its boxy silhouette has always whispered promises of adventure. But this latest offering isn't just another tribute; it is a masterstroke of authenticity, created by the engineers who know the Defender better than anyone alive.

Built by Land Rover Classic’s expert team, each Soft Top begins its journey with a carefully selected Solihull-built Defender 90, originally crafted between 2012 and 2016. Then the magic begins: a painstaking rebuild that transforms it into something greater than even the most lovingly restored examples. While many enthusiasts attempt to modernise old Defenders – bolting on V8s, stitching in leather, hoping to bottle lightning – here, the original custodians of the Defender legacy have done it properly, to factory standards, with an unmatched eye for authenticity, luxury, and performance.

Classic Defender V8 Soft Top: At a Glance

The beating heart of the new Classic Defender V8 Soft Top is a 5.0-litre naturally aspirated V8, pushing out 405 horsepower and 515Nm of torque. Mated to an eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox, it propels the short-wheelbase 90 from standstill to 60mph in a scarcely believable 5.6 seconds - a far cry from the original 1979 Series III Stage 1 V8, with its modest 90bhp.

But raw power is just one side of the story. A bespoke canvas roof, available in a range of colours – Black as standard and Sand, Dark Khaki and Navy also available – wraps the vehicle in timeless style, its design inspired by the final Defender to roll off the line in 2016. Buyers can choose between a full hood or a “bikini-hood” top for that windswept, open-air driving experience that Defender soft-tops have always symbolised. Meanwhile, the suspension – a blend of Eibach springs and anti-roll bars, and Bilstein dampers – promises a ride that’s as supple on city streets as it is unyielding off the beaten path. Alcon brakes bring it all to a halt with reassuring authority.

Customisation lies at the heart of the experience. With 49 paint colours, multiple canvas options, duo-tone leathers with colours such as Caraway, Liberty Blue, and Garnet, Wolf or Sawtooth wheels, and even quirky additions like surfboard racks and onboard wine coolers, owners can conjure a Defender as individual as their adventures. Prices start from £195,000 (Dh960,000 approx.), but for the true enthusiast, the value goes beyond numbers – it lies in the ownership of something crafted by masters, not modders.

From the early V8s of the 1980s, through the NAS 90s that captured imaginations across America, to the rare 50th Anniversary editions, the Defender’s V8 lineage has always been about passion over pragmatism. The 2018 Works V8 hinted at what was possible. The Classic Defender V8 Soft Top continues that bloodline, with modern poise and authenticity that no aftermarket effort could hope to replicate.

Land Rover Classic has not merely rebuilt a vehicle; they have re-ignited a feeling – a yearning for open horizons, muddy boots, and the mechanical purity of a time before screens ruled the dashboard. For those lucky enough to own one, the Classic Defender V8 Soft Top will be more than a car – it will be a portal to freedom, roaring at the edge of the past and the future.