Land Rover Classic Unleashes V8!
Land Rover Classic, the official authority on restoring and customising the iconic Classic Defender, has announced an exciting new offering for South African enthusiasts: the ability to create a bespoke Classic Defender V8 that perfectly mirrors the colours and trims of the Defender OCTA.
This means that owners—or those aspiring to a Defender duo—can now commission a Classic Defender V8 (available in 90/110 Station Wagon or 90 Soft Top body styles).
OCTA-inspired palette
The inspiration from the Defender OCTA introduces five new exterior colour options for Classic Defender V8 customisation:
OCTA-exclusive shades: Petra Copper, Faroe Green, and Sargasso Blue.
OCTA Black/Patagonia White inspired: Narvik Black and Patagonia White.
Existing Options: Borasco Grey, Carpathian Grey, and Charente Grey remain available.
Each vehicle undergoes an intensive 300-hour process in the paint shop, ensuring meticulous preparation, perfect colour matching, and a flawless final polish. Clients can choose a classic gloss finish or opt for a specially developed satin finish to match the sheen of the Defender OCTA’s optional Matte Protective Film.
New Interior Luxury and Custom Details
For the first time on the Classic Defender, the interior choices are expanded to match the Defender OCTA’s contemporary luxury and toughness, including:
Ultrafabrics PU: Lightweight material in Khaki Green, Light Cloud, and Lunar.
Premium Leather: Burnt Sienna semi-aniline leather, with Ebony leather also available to match the OCTA Black inspiration.
Clients can select hand-trimmed, heated Recaro sports seats and work closely with Land Rover Classic's design team to perfectly replicate the colour placement across the steering wheel, dashboard, headlining, and door trims.
Exclusive exterior additions developed for the Classic Defender V8 further enhance the OCTA connection, including a gloss-black radiator grille designed for optimum cooling and a Chopped Carbon Fibre bonnet script.
Power and Performance
Dominic Elms, Director, Land Rover Classic, commented: “Defender OCTA is the most dynamically accomplished and toughest Defender ever made, while the Classic Defender V8 remains hugely characterful and sought after. Ever since Defender OCTA’s launch in 2024 we’ve seen an appetite from our clients wanting to commission a matching Classic Defender V8.”
These highly sought-after vehicles are created through Land Rover Classic’s Works Bespoke programme, which takes a 2012-2016 donor vehicle and completely restores, re-engineers, and upgrades it:
Engine: 298kW 5.0-litre V8 engine.
Transmission: Eight-speed ZF automatic transmission with a dedicated sport mode.
Dynamics: Enhanced suspension with custom springs, dampers, anti-roll bars, a revised steering system, and uprated brakes (335mm/300mm discs front/rear).
Commissioning Your Classic Defender V8
Prospective South African buyers do not need to own a Defender OCTA to commission an inspired Classic V8. The bespoke program ensures each vehicle is unique. Additional options include infotainment upgrades, a crystal lighting pack, and a choice of five wheel styles across 11 different finishes.
Classic Defender V8 pricing starts from £190 000 (R4.3-million, excluding applicable local taxes and duties). Each vehicle includes a one-year, unlimited mileage warranty.
