Precisely 2,008,179 Land Rover Defenders have been sold since the first one left the production line in Solihull on 30 April 1948. That’s 85 sold every day since.

First built to replace the American ‘Willy’s Jeep’ used by designer Maurice Wilk on his land in Anglesey. The first sketch was made in the sand on Red Wharf Bay.

The biggest endorsement is that the same car is still in use on some of the world’s harshest terrains today. These Land Rover Defenders were pictured last week in Kyrgyzstan, central Asia, about to embark on some mountain adventure (photo: @LeighTurnerFCO). Clearly, nobody wants to drive anything else.

The special edition Land Rover Defender LXV (65 in roman numerals) comes in black or white, with grey roof and grille, and leather seats with contrast orange stitching.

The LXV is available in all five Defender body styles. Prices to be released in August.

The occasion was marked with an event at Packington Estate at Meriden near Solihull, the testing ground for the original and used until the 1970’s.

This important milestone is reached as Land Rover celebrates record monthly and quarterly sales figures. With exciting ideas for the next generation Defender in the pipeline, it’s far too early to think about retirement yet.