Land Rover Celebrates Defender with Recreation of 1948 Production Line

The New Defender Tour has opened this week at the Land Rover Solihull plant to celebrate one of the world’s most iconic vehicles. The tour includes an innovative new visitor attraction replicating an original 1948 production line.

The display gives an insight into life on a car production line in late 1940’s as well as telling the story of the creation of the original Series I by Land Rover founder Maurice Wilks.

Managing Director of Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations John Edwards said, “Land Rover has a rich heritage based around the Series I and Defender models and we wanted to create something extra special that would give visitors and enthusiasts a unique insight into how it all started back in 1948” .

The new Defender factory tour lasts approximately three hours, beginning at the production process – the body shop. The bodies are manufactured prior to being shipped to paint. The tour continues in final assembly where visitors can see the engine and gearbox lowered onto the chassis and watch as the labour intensive process of assembling the painted body panels begins.

The Writtle family were among the first to visit, who are confessed Defender enthusiasts, between them owning 11 and have recently secured one of the Limited Edition Heritage Vehicles from the announced Celebration Series. “We were amazed how little the Defender manufacturing process has changed in the last six decades, with individual craftsmanship still at the heart of each vehicle produced”.

Tours cost £45per person.

To arrange a visit to the home of the Land Rover legend during its final year of UK production, visit https://shop.landrover.co.uk/driving-experiences/behind-the-scenes/defender-celebration-tour-solihull

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