If your Defender Octa feels a little lonely in the garage, Land Rover now has a solution that is equal parts indulgent and irresistible. The Classic division will build you a restored Defender V8 that matches your Octa right down to the paint and trim.
The big news is colour. The classic Defender can now be ordered in any of the Octa shades, including Petra Copper, Faroe Green and Sargasso Blue. These were earlier exclusive to the 626 bhp flagship but now find their way onto a body style that still traces its roots to wartime farm duties. The cabin can also be specified in the same materials as the Octa, which means the leather-free Ultrafabrics option appears for the first time in a Classic V8.
Body styles are more flexible than the Octa’s single five-door 110 layout. You can have your matching classic as a 90 or 110 Station Wagon or even a 90 Soft Top. There is also the option of a gloss black grille and carbon bonnet script to mirror the look of the new car.
The Classic Defender V8 remains a full factory rework. Land Rover sources a late model Defender built between 2012 and 2016, removes the ageing diesel and installs the naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8. It produces 399bhp, which is well short of the Octa’s 626bhp from its 4.4-litre twin turbo unit, but more than adequate for a vehicle that still carries the stance and simplicity of its forebears. Bespoke suspension and upgraded brakes ensure it behaves better than the original ever did.
Price is where the story becomes curious. In the United Kingdom, the Classic Defender V8 starts at roughly 40 lakh rupees over the Octa. The numbers may not line up neatly, but the Classic is sold on craftsmanship and nostalgia, which tend to ignore logic. You do not need to own an Octa to buy one either, although pairing the two would certainly make for an interesting driveway.
