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Iconic Land Rover Defender reaches 2,000,000 milestone

24 June, 2015

Poised alongside other historic motors like the Mini Cooper and the Ford Mustang, Land Rover’s immortal Defender will be hitting a unique milestone in 2015 — the 2,000,000th variant of the plucky paddock basher is planned to roll off the production line later this year.

After debuting more than 60 years ago in 1953, the Defender has stood the test of time and continues to be regarded as one of the most potent and indestructible off-roaders in history, and, perhaps more poignantly, one of the most unshakable symbols for British automotive engineering.

With production of the popular platform scheduled to cease by the end of the year, Land Rover have made a great effort to give the Defender a memorable final hurrah — recruiting a comprehensive list of personalities and brand ambassadors to take part in the production of ‘Defender 2,000,000’; including adventurer Bear Grylls, entrepreneur Theo Paphitis, and a number of competitors from the Invictus Games — a sporting event for servicemen and servicewomen returning from war zones with disabilities.

Check out Land Rover’s video tribute to both the Defender, and those taking part in the build, below.

Luxury by design

15 January, 2026

How do you define luxury? To some it is being blinded with all manner of technological wizardry, from massaging heated seats to being able to activate everything with your voice, be it the driver’s side window or the next track on Spotify. To others, the most exorbitant price tag will dictate how luxurious a car is.
For me, true automotive luxury comes from being transported in unparalleled comfort, refinement, and smoothness of power under complete control. Forget millions of technological toys; if one can be transported here and there without the sensation of moving at all, that is luxury — something that is perfectly encapsulated by the original Lexus LS400. It was the first truly global luxury car from Toyota, and one that made the big luxury brands take notice.

NZ Classic Car magazine, January/February 2026 issue 403, on sale now

15 December, 2025

Morris’ ground-breaking, world-beating, Minor
It was Britain’s biggest small car, and it got Britain mobile again.       Morris Motors celebrated its millionth Minor in December 1960, a car that defined the British motor industry, and was in production for 10 years alongside the iconic Mini of 1959.
Whakatane dentist John Twaddle has a passion for Morris Minors going back to 1982, and he still has his first example. There are now three ‘Morries’ in his garage. One, however, is quite special, a rare ‘Minor-Million’. 
One of just 350 made commemorating the millionth Morris Minor produced, the first British car to hit a million units, the well-rounded little Brit’ would end production in 1971with a tally of over 1.6 million units.
John finished his Minor Million six years ago, resplendent in lilac, its official factory colour. He calls it his ‘Minor Resurrection’, and it has won numerous awards.
This summer edition also comes with our annual FREE classic car calendar, a must for every garage wall.
Every issue comes with our FREE huge wall poster; this issue, our poster is of a couple of garage mates, a 1957 Ford Ranchero and a 1968 Lincoln Continental.