While plenty of off-roading trucks and SUVs are on the market today, there’s nothing quite as iconic or coveted as the Vintage Land Rover Defenders. Land Rover began releasing its classic Defender lineup in the early 1980s, and these utility vehicles quickly became known worldwide as the official British off-roader. As a result, the 1980 Land Rover Defenders are not only iconic, but they occupy a unique space in Land Rover’s rich legacy. Find out more about the unique history behind the 1980 Land Rover Defenders below.

The Origin Story of the First Land Rover Defender

An offshoot of the Land Rover Series III, the first Land Rover Defender, was released in 1983. However, at the time, Land Rover had yet to come up with the concept of “Defender.” Instead, this first Defender was simply marketed as the Land Rover One Ten. There was nothing special about the naming behind the One Ten — it simply represented the wheelbase measurement in inches. What might have been the most interesting aspect of the One Ten marketing is that Land Rover consistently advertised the original One Ten as the “One Ten” instead of the “110.”

The same concept is true behind the second Defender or Land Rover Ninety. The year following the release of the Land Rover One Ten, the Land Rover Ninety was released in 1984. Once again, the name stemmed from the fact that the Ninety’s wheelbase measurement was around 90 inches or 92.9 inches, to be exact. Defender enthusiasts will know that the Land Rover One Ten and Land Rover Ninety were quite similar off-roading vehicles, the most significant difference being their size and capacity. Of course, the original One Ten was the medium-sized off-roader with four doors, and the Ninety was the small-sized off-roader with two doors.

In 1985, Land Rover decided to offer a third Defender model. Marketed as the Land Rover 127, the third Defender model had quite a few differences from the first two models. One difference was how the off-roader was marketed. Instead of being spelled out like the two previous models, the Land Rover 127 was always marketed with the name rendered numerically. In addition, another key difference between the Land Rover 127 and the One Ten and Ninety models was that the 127 was a four-door off-roader with a truck bed.

The 1980 Land Rover Defenders Own A Special Piece of History

The Land Rover One Ten, Ninety, and 127 continued to be marketed as such until the introduction of the Discovery in 1989. In order to differentiate and avoid any confusion between the two styles of Land Rovers, the name Defender was given to these three Land Rovers. That’s why the 1980 Land Rover Defenders occupy such a unique space in Land Rover history as they were “Defenders” before Land Rover ever drummed up the concept.

By 1990, the 1980 Land Rover Defenders were a thing of the past. Well, at least the original marketing was a thing of the past. The original Land Rover One Ten simply became the Defender 110. In the same respect, the Land Rover Ninety became the Defender 90. The biggest marketing change during this transition was that the Land Rover 127 was renamed the Defender 130.

Along with the unique marketing of the 1980 Land Rover Defenders, what made these off-roaders unique was that they served as Land Rover’s first real attempt to modernize the Land Rover since World War II. Some key modernization features that the 1980 Land Rover Defenders had were coil springs that provided improved axle articulation, a permanent four-wheel-drive system, and more powerful drivetrains. Overall, the modern elements combined with the unique marketing give the 1980 Land Rover Defenders a special place in the Land Rover legacy.

Re-imagined 1980 Land Rover Defenders

Adventure-seekers know there’s something special about the 1980 Land Rover Defenders. When it comes to off-roading options, Defenders are often the coveted choice. While these iconic British off-roaders were once difficult for Americans to get their hands on, ECD is making the process of owning restored 1980 Land Rover Defenders easier than ever for consumers residing in the States.

So, if you’re ready to make one of ECD’s re-imagined 1980 Land Rover Defenders yours, it’s time to stop pumping the breaks and put your foot on the gas. Contact us today to learn more about our re-imagined 1980 Land Rover Defenders and how you can bring one home to your garage soon!