- Land Rover’s Classic Defender V8 Works Bespoke Soft Top pays homage to old-school icons like the highly collectible 1990s NAS 90.
- The Classic program revives vehicles through a comprehensive rebuild, including a 405PS 5.0‑litre petrol V8 engine, eight‑speed automatic transmission, luxurious interior, and more.
- Prices for the new Classic Defender V8 Soft Top start from £195,000 (AU$407,000) plus on-roads.
From Mercedes-Benz’s G-Class Edition STRONGER THAN THE 1980s to Suzuki’s Jimny Heritage, in recent years, we’ve seen retro revivals from plenty of different automakers. And Land Rover is the latest to join the party with a heritage-inspired off-roader.
Uncompromising in craftsmanship, the Classic Defender V8 Works Bespoke Soft Top is a hand-built reincarnation of the original short-wheelbase 90 Soft Top (which ended production in 2016). Though you’d be mistaken in thinking this is a straightforward vintage refresh – it’s an entirely different beast.
Each example begins life as a donor vehicle that rolled off the factory floor between 2012 and 2016. Land Rover Classic’s engineering team then strips each car down to rebuild it to a jaw-dropping specification. The 405PS V8 engine – mated to an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission – ensures it has more than enough grunt to match its classic silhouette.
One of the most striking features remains the canvas hood above the driver that’s available in four colours: Black, Sand, Dark Khaki, or Navy. The frame itself takes inspiration from the coveted NAS (North American Specification) 90, with added tie-down points to keep everything secure when you’re ripping down the highway.
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Choice isn’t limited to the canvas hood with 49 different paint finishes available to pick from as standard; Land Rover will also happily create a bespoke colour to your desire upon request. The interior of the Classic Defender V8 Soft Top offers single or two-tone leather options in shades from Liberty Blue to Garnet, while other accessories include an onboard wine cooler or surfboard rack.
Unsurprisingly, this isn’t a cheap car to order. What might raise an eyebrow, however, is the fact that for the price of a Classic Defender V8 Soft Top, you could buy a 2025 Land Rover Defender OCTA ($291,542)… and still have spare change to buy a 2025 Land Rover Discovery Sport ($101,999).
That’s right, the new Classic Defender V8 Soft Top starts from £195,000 (AU$407,000), plus on-roads, making it one of the more expensive vehicles to ever wear the iconic green badge. But then again, driving one of the most desirable classic Defenders ever made – with modern reliability and near-endless customisability, no less – was always going to be an eye-wateringly expensive affair.
