Obsessions: Land Rover Defender

Early 1970s Land Rover Series III Defender.

What is it about certain vehicles that win our hearts?  Some cars and trucks have a one-two-three punch of heart, soul and grit that make them irresistible.  The beautiful brick-like Volvo 240 has all three, so does the Porsche 912 (plus moxie).  Few vehicles inspire such swooning, however, as the Land Rover Defender.

Before the days of the the Range Rover and the Evoque, the Defender established Land Rover as a rugged British off-roading brand.  The Defender bears little similarity with the luxury Land Rovers of today, but is even more a symbol of refinement than its glamorous siblings.  Production of the Defender - which began its life as the Series I, II and III SUVs -  began in 1948 and continued with a similar design until this January (though most models in the U.S. are pre-1997).  The big, slow behemoths were originally designed for agricultural use but were quickly adapted for everyday life.  

1968 Land Rover Series II Defender.

Unlike many of their antique and modern peers, the average Defender has held up well even in rust-prone states.  There’s a 1968 long-wheelbase Series II Defender that lives a block away from me.  This specimen’s glorious faded patina make it the crown automotive jewel of the neighborhood, and the haphazard camo paint job fits the truck’s quirky vibe (this one has a zombie hunter sticker on the trunk window) quite well.  The most remarkable feature of the truck is that it’s rust free, a rarity for any 50-year old vehicle in Minnesota.

A Land Rover Series I Defender in Portland, Ore., in need of some love.

Wherever I go, I see Defenders in various states of repair and disrepair.  There’s an early 1970s Series III in pristine cherry red that frequents the North Loop in Minneapolis.  I came across a late Series I parked under an awning in Portland, dirty, abandoned and needing some love.  There’s also a mid-’90s specimen that rests near a favorite clothing store of mine in Saint Paul, stationary for several years with the back window broken out.  I’m perplexed by the neglect that some owners inflict upon these fine vehicles.  At the same time, this laissez-faire attitude allows the rugged Defender to carry on unmolested by aftermarket hounds, left to age much like a fine wine.  And like a fine wine, they get better every year.