Last of its kind: the final 2016 Land Rover Defender Heritage Edition offered in online auction

LONDON, Is this by far the best Christmas present for a Land Rover collector? Collecting Cars is offering a true piece of Land Rover history with exceptional provenance. Now live and open for bidding is the final Land Rover Defender Heritage Edition, and the fourth-to-last Land Rover Defender of any variant to roll off the line.

Built to celebrate the legacy of HUE 166, the very first pre-production Series I Land Rover from 1947, the Heritage Edition marked the closing chapter of classic Defender production. With a total UK allocation of just 400 vehicles, these factory-built specials have become firm favourites among collectors worldwide, with a delivery-mileage example selling for a six-figure sum back in 2023.

This specific Land Rover Defender 90 Heritage Edition is finished in iconic Grasmere Green metallic with an Alaska White roof and has covered just 4,597 miles since 2016. It proudly displays all the hallmarks that make the Heritage Edition so sought-after: heritage-style grille and headlamp surrounds, body-coloured heavy-duty steel wheels, a silver front bumper with black end caps, clear indicator lenses, and Indus Silver door hinges. Aluminium heritage badges adorn the grille and rear, while authentic HUE 166 graphics grace the front wings, completing the period-inspired look.

Inside, the cabin blends traditional Defender toughness with subtle luxury. Highlights include a perforated leather steering wheel rim, gear lever and handbrake, Bright Aluminium trim to the air vents and door furniture, and Almond Resolve Cloth seats with heritage logos and HUE 166 tags. Practical touches such as rubber floor mats and a padded cubby box ensure it remains ready for use as well as admiration.

This Defender 90 was built on 29 January 2016 – the last day of Defender production – and is confirmed as the final Heritage model to leave the factory. It remains original and remarkably well-preserved, with just one private owner from new, accompanied by a full folder of documentation evidencing this car’s exceptional provenance and significance, including several magazine feature articles.

Commenting on the auction listing, Edward Lovett, founder of Collecting Cars said: “Special edition Defenders like the Heritage consistently attract strong interest from bidders all over the world. They capture everything people love about the classic Defender, with the reassurance of being factory-built and carefully specified from new.

“As the last one to roll off the production line, this is quite literally the ‘ultimate’ Defender Heritage, and as such represents an unmissable opportunity in the market – so we anticipate strong interest from collectors.”

Offered from the UK yet open to worldwide bidding, this low-mileage, single-owner Defender 90 Heritage Edition is an outstanding opportunity for collectors seeking one of the most characterful modern Land Rovers ever produced. The seven-day auction will conclude on 30 December, exclusively on the Collecting Cars platform. Interested bidders can explore the full details here: collectingcars.com/for-sale/2016-land-rover-defender-90-heritage-3.