When Was the Land Rover Defender First Built?

When you see a Land Rover vehicle, there’s no mistaking the automaker’s brand. The distinctive curves and lines of a Land Rover stand out, no matter what model year you’re looking at.

The Land Rover Defender is one of the brand’s most popular lines, and it’s been around in some fashion for 40 years! Officially, the Land Rover Defender was first named in 1990. But the rich history of the vehicle is much more interesting than a name change more than three decades ago.

Take a look at some key dates in the history of the Land Rover Defender.

Land Rover Defender History

This vaunted model has a history that dates back to the founding of Land Rover in Great Britain following World War II.

• 1948-1985 – In the beginning, there was the Land Rover Series I. In successive generations, the automaker created the Land Rover Series II and the Land Rover Series III. Each Land Rover vehicle is designed as a rugged, off-road luxury SUV (before there were SUVs), which helped get to the first Land Rover Defender release.
• 1983 – The Land Rover 110 is released for the first time in the U.K. The Land Rover 90, a two-door variant, was released in 1984.
• 1990 – A rebranding of sorts happened when the name “Land Rover Defender” was used for the first time! The 110 and the 90 are renamed as the “Defender 110” and the “Defender 90,” respectively. So, technically the first Land Rover Defender happened in 1983 with the first 110. But the 110s were built on previous models dating back to 1948.
• 1993-1997 – The Land Rover Defender 110 and Land Rover Defender 90 are sold in the U.S. Land Rovers in general were first sold on American soil in 1987.
• 1997 – Changing regulations required the Land Rover Defender to leave the American market. But it would be back soon.

Every Land Rover vehicle is known as a hardworking, AWD, spacious vehicle designed for rugged offroading, a tradition that continues today near Newark.

When Was the Land Rover Defender Discontinued Initially?

The model was discontinued in 2016 due to emissions standards and the high gas mileage of Land Rover Defenders. However, the Jaguar brand bought Land Rover and completely retooled and rejuvenated the design after taking four years off for design and engineering work.

When Did the Land Rover Defender Come Back?

Jaguar brought back the Land Rover Defender as an all-new model in 2020. The luxury SUV had 10 trims that year, and enthusiasts fell in love with it.

What did the original Land Rover Defender do to improve upon previous models?

• Longer hood
• Redesigned grille
• Luxurious interior
• Full-time AWD
• Coil spring suspension
• Two-speed transfer gearbox
• Lockable center differential for more control on terrain

The Land Rover Defender also stood out with its more powerful engines.

Test Drive a New Land Rover Defender Near Middletown Today!

The all-new Land Rover Defender brings new levels of power, fuel efficiency, and luxury to West Chester, PA families. Whether you want a great everyday vehicle for commutes and weekly errands or a fantastic SUV for weekend getaways to the mountains or cross-country road trips on summer vacation, these new models will take your breath away.

Ready for the next steps? Contact us or call (302) 992-9400 for more information. Want more information? Take a look at more details from Land Rover as you research the brand.