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[crumbly65]

With the demise of the Land Rover name, I was thinking today about the legendary status Land Rover vehicles have earned over the years.

I think we can all pretty much agree agree on the Series One being the first Land Rover, but I wonder what would be considered the last "proper" Land Rover? 

I know every model has it's adherents and enthusiasts, but for me, I think it's the 300TDi Defender in whatever form (Station Wagon, Pick-Up, HCPU etc etc...  It was, and still is, true to being a hard-working, adaptable, unpretentious  vehicle, just like it's Series predecessors.

And that's not ignoring the Classic Range Rovers, and Discovery 1 & 2, which could be, and were/are, "working vehicles" in their own way in some circumstances.

I'd even consider a Discovery 4, with it's monocoque on chassis build, as a capable working Land Rover in particular circumstances, such as Mountain Rescue, or motorway patrol and such like.

So what do Forumeers believe to be the last proper Land Rover, true to the spirit and intention of the original?   

[gcc130]

So what’s wrong with the Tdci puma defender??

I run a 09 plate 130 daily for work, towing and carrying tools and materials for my landscaping business, very much a workhorse and fits the bill well.
I also run a 10 plate Dormobile conversion for holidays and expeditions.

I’ve run series, Ninetys and One Tens and Defenders of all wheelbases as work vehicles over the last 35 years and would say proper Landrovers ended when Puma production ceased in 2016.

[crumbly65]

So what’s wrong with the Tdci puma defender??

I run a 09 plate 130 daily for work, towing and carrying tools and materials for my landscaping business, very much a workhorse and fits the bill well.
I also run a 10 plate Dormobile conversion for holidays and expeditions.

I’ve run series, Ninetys and One Tens and Defenders of all wheelbases as work vehicles over the last 35 years and would say proper Landrovers ended when Puma production ceased in 2016.

Absolutely nothing wrong at all with the TDCi Puma!  I'm not wanting to be controversial here, just asking for views.  I agree, the Puma is a great Land Rover, with a decent heater too....

[Exile]

Can of worms Crumbly!   

[crumbly65]

Can of worms Crumbly!   

Certainly is, but taken in the right spirit, every worm has a valid view.....

[ChrisJC]

I think the P38 was the last proper Range Rover. Certainly the L405 is not.

Chris.

[Exile]

I'll throw in the Discovery 4.

Last of the big square chunky Land Rovers.

[Gosney83]

I remember when the td5 engine first came out, many people poo pood it as the first live by wire engine and was the last engine built by land rover I think. So I would say the td5 engined vehicles were the last proper land rovers.
It must be tricky for the writer's of a magazine like Classic Land Rover of when the cut of is for a classic land rover, without being labelled as a  general Land Rover magazine covering all the models.

[Exile]

many people poo pood it as the first live by wire engine

"Fly by wire" Gary.

No Hobnobs for you!

[Gosney83]

You know what I mean 

I'm still waiting for you to buy more hobnobs 

[diffwhine]

I think the 300Tdi actually outlived the TD5 engine. It was available for export right up to the bitter end before TDCi production started and Rest of World orders continued to L316 runout.

[LN11AAB498A]

A good question for a lazy Sunday.

Those who grew up in the SI, II & III era will likely answer differently to someone who`s first car was a Discovery TD5. 

If he could show us what he thinks about it, where would Maurice Wilks draw his line in the sand    I think he might draw it after Defender 300tdi and before the introduction of electronic systems. Of course he might be a gentleman and say that every LR is a proper LR

Controversial maybe, but in my view, the true lineage of the "proper" LR begins with the Series 1 continuing with S2, S3, 90, 110 and ends with Defender 300tdi, these were all natural evolutions to that first sketch in the sands of Anglesey.

The Rangie`s & Disco`s etc were all very different concepts and intended for other markets.

If we could take a vote to decide, like the PoM comp, what would we learn?

At least we can be grateful that Crumbly65 didn`t ask, which is the best LR 

[Porkscratching]

I'd say any of the truly LR shape things including coilers 90s 110s etc.

Definitely Not discovery, RR, freeloader type "cars"

[MrTDiy]

…..hard one this….but let’s have a go…

Moon Rover, Deep Sea Rover…..Moon….Water….. Land Rover?

The medium is Land to define the breed. In my book ‘Land’ means unsealed difficult tracks or countryside. Africa, Australia, Farming….not sure we need to exclude because of electronics….practicality and robustness is key…

So series are easy as are 90's 110's and original Defenders all the through to production end. Early Range Rovers…or shall we say classic range rovers without those low spoilers, boss had one on the farm I worked on that was my first Job and that worked hard so yes. Disco one …yes plenty on shoots I have beat on and lots of tricked up ones around here going laning and they had a commercial version.

So those are the easy ones in my opinion.

Disco 2 3 4 etc… I think no. Freelander no and I think P38 Range Rover onwards no…..but great for the open Range!

New Defender……actually that’s quite tricky….there’s a commercial version and the way Harry used it on Harry's Farm it could rather bizarrely meet the qualification.

Good thread…..thanks for the chance…a vote would be fun

[MrTDiy]

…..ok I don't want to get expelled from the club……I withdraw my New Defender quip…. Sorry