A Fresh Coat for a Classic
The Land Rover Defender Octa debuted in 2024 as the new flagship of the Defender lineup, bringing high-performance engineering and exclusive customization options. Now, the British marque is extending those premium finishes by making Octa-inspired colors and trim combinations available to more customers through Land Rover Classic.
Land Rover Classic – a division dedicated to restoring heritage Land Rovers – is offering these options for the Defender 90 Station Wagon and Soft Top, as well as the longer-wheelbase 110 Station Wagon. The palette includes Octa-exclusive shades such as Petra Copper, Faroe Green, and Sargasso Blue, plus Narvik Black seen in Defender Octa Black and Patagonia White.
These new additions join the existing paint offerings for the Classic Defender V8, including Borasco Gray, Carpathian Gray, and Charente Gray. The company said each example spends around 300 hours in the paint shop, with every color offered in either a gloss or satin finish to mirror the look of the Defender Octa’s optional matte protective film.
More Ways to Customize
Customers may also choose interior schemes inspired by the Defender Octa, featuring lightweight Ultrafabrics in Khaki Green, Light Cloud, or Lunar, with Burnt Sienna semi-aniline leather available as an option. The blackout theme from the Defender Octa Black can also be specified, pairing with ebony leather. Additional interior customizations include hand-trimmed heated Recaro sports seats and color configurations for the steering wheel, transmission levers, and dashboard, among others.
Land Rover Classic is also offering exterior enhancements, including a gloss-black radiator grille and a chopped-carbon-fiber bonnet script.
According to Land Rover Classic director Dominic Elms, this expanded customization program is a response to customers wanting their classic Defenders to match the new Defender Octa visually. He noted that this demand “inspired our Works Bespoke team to work with innovative paint and material technologies to create the ultimate Defender pairing.”
Style Has Its Price
These options aren’t limited to existing owners. Through the Works Bespoke program, customers can commission a fully restored Classic Defender built from donor vehicles produced between 2012 and 2016. Each build is fitted with a 5.0-liter V8 producing 400 horsepower and paired with an eight-speed ZF automatic, part of a transmission family also used in several high-performance models, including the Dodge Challenger.
However, the price reflects the craftsmanship involved. A bespoke Classic Defender V8 starts at £190,000 (about $254,000 at current exchange rates), significantly higher than the new Defender Octa, which begins around $158,000 in the U.S. That’s roughly the same MSRP as a modern Porsche 911 GT3 RS – but for the right buyer, the appeal of a bespoke classic might speak for itself.
