Land Rover’s Defender 2,000,000 Fetches a Record £400,000 at Bonhams Charity Auction

The Defender 2,000,000, a one-of-a-kind Defender vehicle, fetched a staggering £400,000 at the prestigious charity auction in Bonhams last month. It was sold to a winning bidder from Qatar. Proceeds of the auction will be donated to Land Rover’s humanitarian and conservation partners. It is considered as the most valuable Land Rover product ever to be sold at the auction.

What Makes This Defender Special?

It’s the two-millionth of the iconic Series Land Rover and Defender models manufactured at Land Rover’s Solihull plant since 1948, that’s why. It was built in 2015 by a star-studded set of brand ambassadors and people from the history of the brand – Bear Grylls, Virginia McKenna OBE and Stephen and Nick Wilks, sons of the founders of Land Rover.

“Earlier this year, we had the opportunity to turn a milestone Land Rover into a true collector’s car. With the expert help of my SVO team and a handful of willing Land Rover ambassadors, we created something unique and very special. Tonight’s sale will go down as part of our history. Of course, Defender has a future and will live on in its own right. But the original Series Land Rovers and Defenders will also continue to thrive through our Jaguar Land Rover Heritage division,” says John Edwards, Managing Director of Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Operations, who oversaw the build of the car.

Joanna Lumley, Founder Patron of international wildlife charity the Born Free Foundation, commented about the auction: “To raise such a substantial amount with the sale of one vehicle is phenomenal.

Without the support of the public and partners such as Land Rover, we would not be able to effectively make a positive change to the world as we know it.”

Virginia McKenna OBE, who is a Born Free Foundation Founder and Trustee, says “”Despite seriously lacking mechanical skills, I was given the great privilege of attaching the number plates to this very special Defender. Land Rover has been in our lives since 1964, when my husband Bill and I went to Kenya to film ‘Born Free’. Each day we went out in our vehicle with George Adamson and a lion; out on to the plains for our early morning walk. We are delighted that the money raised from today’s auction will help Born Free’s work with wildlife in the Meru area of Kenya.”

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) will use the donation to help communities in South-East Nepal to improve preparation for natural disasters. The Born Free Foundation plans to use the funds to support the ‘Project Lion Rover’ wildlife conservation initiative in Meru National Park, Kenya.

Roverworks is Canberra’s top choice for automotive repairs, parts and maintenance. Our mechanic team specialises in Land Rover and Range Rover models, in addition to servicing of 4x4s, off-road and other car models. Visit our shop for a quick check-up or consultation, repairs, maintenance and parts.