British off-road vehicle specialist Land Rover has raised 400,000 British pounds (594,000 Swiss francs) for a good cause at a charity auction in London. The two millionth Land Rover Defender went under the hammer at Bonhams auction house. With the help of Defender fans and celebrities, the anniversary edition of the 4x4 classic was refined into a one-off. All proceeds from the auction will go to two charities that have long been Land Rover partners: the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the animal welfare organization "Born Free Foundation". The two millionth Defender was purchased at auction by a bidder from Qatar.
Brand ambassadors and Defender fans pick up the tools
The unique Defender to mark the two millionth anniversary of the model was handcrafted last spring at Land Rover's main plant in Solihull in the West Midlands. Numerous brand ambassadors and Defender fans, including the adventurer Bear Grylls, who is also well-known in Germany for his TV appearances, took up the tools. The actress and "Born Free" founder Virginia McKenna and the sons of the Land Rover founder, Stephen and Nick Wilks, were also involved in the assembly of the unique anniversary piece. Their efforts were for a good cause, as all proceeds from the auction were earmarked for the two Land Rover partners, the Red Cross and the Born Free Foundation.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has earmarked its 50 percent share of the Defender auction proceeds for projects in south-eastern Nepal, where people are particularly affected by natural disasters. The Born Free Foundation is putting the money donated towards the "Lion Rover" animal protection project in Meru National Park in Kenya. With this support, important equipment for the protection of lions and other wild animals can be purchased, while at the same time information work and training is promoted with the aim of preventing poaching and trapping.
Working for a better world
Among the guests at the Defender auction at London auction house Bonhams were numerous celebrities, including actress Joanna Lumley, who is one of the founders and supporters of "Born Free": "It is phenomenal that such a sum is raised from the auction of a single car. Without the support of the public and partners like Land Rover, we wouldn't be able to work to change the world for the better."
Virginia McKenna, founder and trustee of the Born Free Foundation: "Despite my lack of technical skills, I was honored to be involved in the making of this very special Defender. Land Rover has been with me since 1964 when I filmed the movie Born Free with my husband Bill in Kenya and we used to go for a ride in our Land Rover every morning. We are delighted that the proceeds of the auction will now benefit Born Free's work for wildlife in Kenya."
Mike Adamson, Chief Executive of the British Red Cross, said: "We are extremely grateful to Land Rover for allowing half of the auction proceeds to go towards our work for the people of Nepal. The Red Cross has relied on Land Rover vehicles, and the Defender in particular, for its humanitarian work around the world since the early 1950s. We have benefited from Land Rover's support on many occasions - most recently with the particularly important project in Nepal, which involves several locations and communities with thousands of people."
Auction goes down in the history of the brand
John Edwards, Managing Director of Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations, is leading the production of the two millionth Defender: "A few months ago, we put this vehicle on wheels - a true collector's item and a milestone in Land Rover history. With the help of our Special Operations team and the support of Defender fans, we have created a unique and very special Defender. The auction of this unique piece will now also go down in the history of our brand. It goes without saying that the legendary Defender has a future even after the end of production - at the same time, the countless Defender models of the various series will continue to thrive thanks to the support of the Jaguar Land Rover Heritage department."
Robert Brooks, Chief Auctioneer at Bonhams: "Bonhams is honored to have been chosen by Land Rover to auction this unique Defender. After an exciting auction, the bid was finally accepted by a lucky bidder on the telephone. This raised an excellent six-figure sum for two great charitable projects."
Great attention to detail
The Defender model number 2,000,000 now being auctioned in London has a wealth of extraordinary details. These include a map of Red Wharf Bay engraved into the aluminum mudguard: the design of the classic was created in the sands of the Welsh bay almost seven decades ago. The vehicle, painted in satin Indus Silver, is identified as a one-off by "No 2,000,000" emblems on the bodywork, interior and headrests. The interior is crowned by an aluminum plaque on which all Defender fans involved in the production have immortalized themselves with their autograph. Even the "S90 HUE" license plate is a special feature: the two-time millionaire thus adopts the license plate of the very first pre-production model, which became an icon of Land Rover history as "HUE 166" or affectionately "Huey".
The auction of the anniversary Defender was accompanied by numerous activities. For example, Land Rover had put together an exclusive exhibition at the Bonhams auction house that spanned 67 years of Land Rover and Defender production - with historic and current vehicles and a "Hall of Fame". Footage for a Defender film, including a striking Defender cab on the streets of London, set the mood in the English capital for the auction of the two millionth Defender. In addition, many companions of the four-wheel drive icon had gathered in London, including Arthur Goddard, the leading Land Rover project engineer in 1948. The now 94-year-old had traveled from Australia especially for the event and gave the anniversary Defender his personal seal of approval.
