Jaguar Land Rover has unveiled a special limited-edition Defender to honor Sir Winston Churchill, the British wartime Prime Minister. The new model, called the Land Rover Defender V8 Churchill Edition, is priced from £232,500 before tax, rising to nearly £280,000 with VAT. Only 10 examples will be made.
Unlike the latest Defender, this edition is based on the previous-generation 4x4, inspired by the Land Rover Series I once owned by Churchill after World War II. The cars are designed to replicate the 1954 vehicle presented to Churchill, offering three body styles in Bronze Green with Bridge of Weir leather interiors.
The Classic Works team at JLR restored and rebuilt donor Defenders from 2012 to 2016, adding a 399bhp 5.0-litre petrol V8 engine paired with an eight-speed automatic. Customers can choose between a three-door 90 (Station Wagon or Soft Top) or a five-door 110.
Details pay homage to Churchill’s original car, including Bronze Green paint, 16-inch steel wheels, and bespoke interior touches. The dashboard features a unique clock inspired by Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill champagne, and the front bears a black headlight surround, echoing the Series I’s design. Soft Top models include a custom canvas hood that can be unzipped for open-air driving, with extra tie-downs for stability.
While the cabin doesn’t include a cigar holder, it comes with a modern infotainment system offering navigation, DAB radio, and Bluetooth, carefully integrated to retain a classic look.
Prices vary by model: the 90 Station Wagon starts at £279,000, the 90 Soft Top from £291,000, and the 110 hard-top reaches £295,200. The Classic Works team says each vehicle is the result of hundreds of hours of meticulous restoration, blending durability, luxury, and off-road capability. The uprated suspension, steering, and braking system further refine the on-road experience.
Performance is strong for a classic Defender: 0–62mph in 5.9 seconds for the 90, 6.1 seconds for the 110, with a top speed of 106mph.
Dominic Elms, managing director of JLR Classic, said: “The Churchill Edition shows what is possible when a client’s vision meets the craftsmanship of our Classic experts. We have captured the essence of Winston Churchill’s 1954 Land Rover in this exclusive, hand-built limited edition.”
Churchill’s original Series I, registration ‘UKE 80,’ was presented to him at Chartwell in November 1954 to celebrate his 80th birthday. Modified for his comfort, it featured a wider seat, footwell heater, and leather-wrapped grab handles. The vehicle remained at Chartwell until Churchill died in 1965, passed down to his family, and was eventually sold to its current Swiss owner in 2013. Today, it resides at the Emil Frey Classics Museum in Switzerland.
