When Land Rover Classic unveils a new toy for adults with deep pockets, we know it won't be just another restoration of old hardware. This time, they're paying homage to a very special vehicle from 1954 - the Land Rover Series I, once the personal pet of Winston Churchill himself. And while the original was more of a tractor than an SUV, they've now - with all due respect to history and a slight tinge of mockery - transformed it into something that can easily compete with the Range Rover Sport. Of course, for a price that would take Churchill's breath away (if he still had any left after all those cigarillos). So - the Land Rover Defender Churchill Edition 2025.
The matter is called Land Rover Defender Churchill Edition 2025 and comes in color Bronze Green, which is not just a color, but almost an emotional state. To get it to the millimeter, engineers traveled all the way to Switzerland (because why not), to the museum Emil Frey Classics, where from the original Churchill Land Rover They took patina samples as if they were a DNA sample of famous history.
Visually, the car is a love letter to the fifties – steel bumpers, mesh grille, matte black headlight surrounds (which, by the way, try to look retro, but are a bit too cosplay). All of it rests on 16-inch steel wheels in the same nostalgic tone as if they were made by some forgotten English blacksmith with a monocle.
V8, because Churchill wouldn't be satisfied with less
Instead of that slightly boring 1954 four-cylinder, the Churchill Edition packs a 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine with 405 horsepower and 360 pound-feet of torque. This is no longer a car for slow country drives – this is a Defender that shoots from the mud to 62 mph in 5.9 seconds. Although, let’s be honest, the original tires probably wouldn’t have survived that pace.
The rear of the vehicle is equipped with Eibach springs, Bilstein shock absorbers and reinforced anti-roll bars – meaning this “farming legend” can now behave like a car halfway to the racetrack. Winston would probably use this to make a quick dash for the nearest bottle of Pol Roger.
Interior: Where a statesman and a gentleman meet
If the exterior is retro elegance, the interior is pure luxury. Leather Bridge of Weir in bottle green (yes, that's the color now) it covers every corner - from the seats to the handles, which Churchill, like an old cat, would surely use to lift himself out of his seat with a little more style.
The dashboard is dominated by a clock that pays homage to his favorite champagne, Pol Roger. It has a blue dial with red stripes because… details matter. And because British irony never goes out of style.
But to keep things from getting too nostalgic, the Defender also has a modern infotainment system, with navigation and Bluetooth connectivity. In case you get lost on the way to your country estate, of course.
Every piece is handmade – like cheese in Cornwall
Each of the ten specimens was created from donor Defenders (model years 2012-2016) that have undergone a complete transformation in Coventry – at Land Rover Classic Works. It involves hundreds of hours of manual work, a complete overhaul of the powertrain, chassis and interior. The result? A car – the Land Rover Defender Churchill Edition 2025, which is more a work of art than a means of transport. And perhaps even too expensive to drive in the rain.
Technical data (for those who are more interested in numbers than stories) – Land Rover Defender Churchill Edition 2025
| Model | Classic Defender V8 Churchill Edition |
|---|---|
| Engine | 5.0L V8, naturally aspirated |
| Power | 405 HP |
| Torque | 515 Nm |
| Gearbox | 8-speed ZF automatic |
| 0-100 km/h | 5.9s (90), 6.1s (110) |
| Top speed | 170 km/h |
| Variations | 90/110 Station Wagon, 90 Soft Top |
| Number of copies produced | 10 |
Price? Well, prestige has its price.
If you feel like the Churchill Edition might be right for you, prepare a little more than a change in your jacket pocket. The basic 90 Station Wagon will set you back around €292,000 (314,000 $), the Soft Top a little more – around 304.700 € (327.600 $), while for the 110 Station Wagon you will pay as much as 309.000 € (332.300 $). Tax-free, of course – this is a luxury, not a super deal.
Conclusion: A tribute with power and charm
The Churchill Edition is more than just a tribute to the past, it's a bold statement of modern engineering in the guise of a classic. It combines heritage, power, style and a dash of British humour – all in ten unique examples that are likely to end up in collectors' garages, alongside boxes of Cohiba and portraits of Winston.
And if you ask us: if Churchill were choosing a vehicle today, he would probably choose this one. You know – something with soul, style… and 405 horsepower.
