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After a two-and-a-half decade run, Land Rover is ending production of its famous Defender model and planning an entirely new line under the same moniker. In honor of the occasion, the car company has collaborated with Sir Paul Smith on a one-off version of the vehicle custom-made for the designer.
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Exceedingly tough and nimble, the Defender has long been a workhorse for ranchers, safari guides, and others living in poorly paved regions of the world. In recent years it has gained a wider fan base that includes design aficionados, like Smith, who are drawn to its elegantly simple silhouette.
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Smith used fabric he created for the textile company Maharam to upholster the Defender’s interior.
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On the exterior panels, the designer used 27 different paint colors—vibrant nature-inspired hues as well as darker greens and grays in a nod to the Defender’s use by the armed services.
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Smith’s bright touches, such as the yellow hinges seen here, accentuate elements of the Defender’s iconic design.
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Even the Defender’s clock got a makeover.
