Land Rover launches new 1980s classic style 4x4 but there's a major catch

Land Rover has launched a beast of a car that retro fans will love - but the brand-spanking new model comes with one significant drawback.

Paying tribute to a legendary design from the 1980s, celebrated for its extraordinary off-road performance in some of the world's toughest environments, Land Rover has unveiled a new Defender Trophy Edition. It is an homage to the Camel Trophy vehicles from 40 years ago, complete with matching accessories and a retro livery.

The Camel Trophy itself began in 1980, originally featuring three German teams driving Jeeps across the Amazon Basin. Described as 'neither a race nor a rally' by Iain Chapman, the event's director for over a decade, the Camel Trophy was an off-roading expedition where participating teams tested their 4x4 driving and mechanical skills, endurance, courage, stamina, perseverance and resilience against some of the most challenging natural conditions on the planet.

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After the inaugural event, organisers partnered with Land Rover and secured primary sponsorship from tobacco company Camel, giving the event its iconic name. Over the next twenty years, the competition took place in challenging locations such as Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Australia, Madagascar, Samoa, Siberia, Malaysia, and many other demanding terrains.

Throughout the event's history, a wide range of Land Rover vehicles participated — Range Rover, Land Rover Series III, Land Rover 90, Land Rover 110, Land Rover Defender, Land Rover Discovery and Freelander. All of which were painted in the distinctive 'Sandglow' yellow associated with the Camel brand.

This signature colour is one of two livery options available for the new Defender Trophy Edition, which will make its public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, which takes place from Thursday, July 10 to Sunday, July 13. However, there is a significant catch with this luxury retro revival model — the price.

The new Trophy Edition is offered exclusively as the mid-size, five-door Defender 110, featuring unique 20-inch alloy wheels and a choice between the aforementioned Deep Sandglow Yellow — evoking the Camel Trophy heritage — or Keswick Green. Both versions include the option of a contrasting black bonnet, wheel arches, roof and black leather interior.

For those seeking even more authenticity, Land Rover offers a Trophy Edition accessory pack for £4,995. This features a roof rack, retractable roof ladder (for easier access to roof-mounted gear), air-intake snorkel (for water crossings) and classic-style mud flaps, as well as gloss black side panniers providing 'extra space for muddy, wet or sandy items'you would rather not store in the boot.

Land Rover said the Trophy Edition, which omits the Camel name for advertising reasons, is a celebration of the brand's 'rich history of adventure challenges', noting that the classic yellow vehicles are 'synonymous with Defenders used on international Trophy-style events'. The price for the Trophy Edition starts at £89,810, a notable increase over the £62,795 base for a standard Defender 110.

While the Trophy Edition’s price is steep, it is only half the cost of a similar commemorative model produced by Land Rover Classic in 2021. That limited run included just 25 examples of the old Defender, each inspired by the Camel Trophy and featuring period-correct liveries and modifications.

Despite a price tag of £195,000 per car, the Works V8 Trophy line sold out in just three days, prompting Land Rover to build another 25 units to meet demand. And it's worth noting — many of the original competition Land Rovers from Camel Trophy events, which ran from 1981 to 2000, are still on the road today and going strong.

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