10 pieces of this iconic Land Rover Classic Defender will appear

Emil Frey

The Churchill Edition was initiated by Land Rover Classic certified retailer Emil Frey. The latter also owns the original Churchill Series I with registration number ‘UKE 80’. The Limited Edition is offered for sale exclusively through Emil Frey and extensive personalization opportunities are available through the Land Rover Classic Works Bespoke program for the Classic Defender V8.

The Classic Defender V8 Churchill Edition is finished in the body color Bronze Green. The experts at Classic Works have carefully matched it to the original color scheme. This deep and rich heritage color has also been applied to the 16-inch heavy-duty steel wheels and to interior details, such as the center console surround.

A galvanized front bumper and a classic metal mesh grille characterize the front end. The matte black headlight surround is inspired by the position of Churchill’s iconic Land Rover Series I license plate. Further details include a ‘UKE 80’ decal on the front fenders, a special badge at the rear and unpainted galvanized covers.

Interior Churchill Edition

The interior is finished in luxurious Bridge of Weir Semi-Aniline leather in Bottle Green, which continues on the passenger handles, combined with upholstery and headliner in Ebony Windsor leather. The dashboard features a unique clock design with blue dials and red stripe, inspired by the colors of the packaging and bottle of Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill champagne.

Sir Winston Churchill’s 1954 Land Rover Series I

Winston Churchill was given “UKE 80,” a Land Rover Series I, on November 30, 1954 at the Chartwell estate on the occasion of his ^80th birthday. Since this Land Rover was primarily used to transport Churchill around his estate, some modifications had been made on the passenger side. These included a wider seat with fold-down center armrest, a heater in the footwell and an additional leather-trimmed handle.

The Series I remained at the Chartwell estate until Churchill’s death in January 1965, when it was transferred to his son-in-law and then MP A. C. Soames. The Land Rover remained in the family until 1973 and was purchased by its current Swiss owner in 2013. The car was then restored and transferred to the Emil Frey Classics Museum in Safenwil, Switzerland. There it still stands today.

Experts at Land Rover Classic meticulously studied the details of “UKE 80” and translated it to the Churchill Edition. The team analyzed the paint to perfectly reproduce the color to match the original Bronze Green. Samples of the original interior upholstery were also collected to give the Bridge of Weir Semi-Aniline leather in Bottle Green exactly the right shade.

Churchill Edition as 90, 110 and Soft Top

In addition to the 90 and 110 Station Wagon versions, the Churchill Edition is also available as a Soft Top. This version features a specially created canvas hood inspired by the hood of the last “classic” Defender produced in Solihull in 2016. The side and rear panels can be unzipped and rolled up for open driving with simultaneous weather protection. In addition, Land Rover Classic has added additional attachment points to keep the canvas tight even at high speeds.

The introduction of the Churchill Edition follows the launch of the 90 and 110 and the 90 Soft Top versions of the Classic Defender V8, all of which can be assembled by Works Bespoke customers to their own specifications. Within the Works Bespoke program, Land Rover Classic Works’ specialist team can provide unique options and accessories inspired by specific or iconic Land Rover models from history. Land Rover Classic can bring to life every customer’s dream of owning the ultimate off-road lifestyle car.

Powerful V8 engine

All Classic Defender V8 models feature an original Land Rover 5.0-liter V8 gasoline engine with 297 kW (405 hp) and 515 Nm of torque, mated to an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission. Based on a donor car originally produced between 2012 and 2016, each one is meticulously restored, redesigned and upgraded by Land Rover Classic over hundreds of hours. The result is a car that offers a unique blend of durability, power, luxury and off-road capability. Handling on the road has been further refined thanks to a radically redesigned suspension with dedicated Eibach springs and Bilstein shock absorbers, modified stabilizer bars, a redesigned ball-bearing steering and an upgraded Alcon brake system.

Each Classic Defender V8 has a Classic infotainment system with modern features such as navigation, DAB radio and Bluetooth, combined with a classic look and is fully integrated into the dashboard and center console.

In addition to the Classic Works service center at Land Rover Classic headquarters in the United Kingdom and a dedicated Land Rover Classic facility in Essen-Kettwig, Germany, Emil Frey can provide full after-sales support for heritage models, including the Classic Defender V8, from their retail facility in Munich.