Backbone of Britain: Week 1 – The Land Rover Defender
The Land Rover Defender: The British Icon That Never Stopped Working
There aren’t many machines that can claim to be part of Britain’s DNA – but the Land Rover Defender can. From muddy fields to mountain rescue, the Defender has been there, done it, and probably towed it home too.
A Workhorse Born from Post-War Britain
The Defender’s story starts just after World War II, when Maurice Wilks sketched the idea for a simple, rugged 4×4 on the beach in Anglesey. The brief was simple: build something that farmers could use all week and drive to church on Sunday.
The result? The Land Rover Series I, launched in 1948 – a practical, purposeful tool designed for utility, not luxury. But it didn’t stay confined to British farms for long. Within years, it was helping explorers cross Africa, soldiers navigate warzones, and aid workers reach remote corners of the world.
Built for Work, Loved for Life
Over the next few decades, the Land Rover evolved through the Series II, III, and finally the Defender name in 1990. Its boxy silhouette, aluminium body, and unstoppable four-wheel drive system became symbols of reliability and grit.
It was never about comfort – it was about capability. Whether towing livestock trailers, winching timber, or rescuing stranded vehicles in the Peak District, the Defender earned its legend through action.
The New Defender: Modern Power, Same Spirit
When Land Rover announced production of the original Defender would end in 2016, it felt like the end of an era. But just four years later, the Defender was reborn – modernised, electrified, and engineered for a new generation.
Today’s Defender combines off-road ability with refinement and technology. You’ll find it on construction sites, in rural estates, and in city fleets – proving that even after 75 years, the Defender still moves with the times while keeping its soul intact.
A Vehicle That Means Business
From self-employed tradespeople to large estate operators, the Defender remains a sought-after asset. It’s a vehicle that tells clients you’re serious, capable, and ready for anything – which makes it as smart a business investment as it is a personal passion.
And for businesses looking to spread the cost, asset finance makes that possible – freeing up working capital while putting serious capability on the road.
If you’re looking to finance the assets that keep Britain moving, get in touch with us at Forest Road Finance.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
