JLR auctions off last L316-series Defender

JLR Australia is readying to auction its last L316-series Defender, a 110 Station Wagon, at a Land Rover dealer-exclusive closed auction to be conducted by Manheim at 1pm on Wednesday 29 November.

Manufactured in the final week on production, the 2016 Land Rover Defender 110 Station Wagon is a seven-seat variant finished in Santorini Black that has never been sold or driven, and has been stored safely from the elements, ensuring it is “meticulously preserved”.

With just 43km on the odometer, the Defender has been used as a showcase model at vehicle launches and has, according to JLR, “played a role in supporting historical milestones”.

“This is an opportunity for one lucky franchise Land Rover dealer to secure one of the very last Defender 110s ever built for the Australian market – in fact, it is one of the last Defenders ever built in the world,” said Cox Automotive head of OEM Heath Stubbs.

“The fortunate buyer will not only be acquiring a Defender, but a piece of history. I am confident this Defender, destined more for admiration than daily driving, will not only set new records at auction for the L316 Defender, but also evolve into an iconic investment.”

It is the first time JLR Australia has opened the doors of its heritage fleet to auction, noting that the vehicle is equipped with Contrast Windsor Leather Premium Seat Pack, diamond turned alloy wheels, privacy glass, and side runners.

Jaguar Land Rover franchised dealers are invited to take part in the auction which is set to take place at Manheim’s Moorebank site in New South Wales.

“There will never be another opportunity like this to secure such a remarkable vehicle,” added Mr Stubbs.

“This L316 Defender is likely to continue to appreciate in value and is perfect for a collector seeking something truly unique.”

Mr Stubbs did not place an estimate on the selling range of the vehicle, though it is likely to be at least three or four times that of the model’s 2016 list price of $47,500 plus on-road costs.

Over two-million Land Rover Defenders were built between 1948 and 2016.

For 2016, the Land Rover Defender 110 featured a 2.2-litre Ford Duratorq four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine developing 90kW and 360Nm. The dual-range all-wheel drive was fitted as standard with a six-speed manual transmission to deliver a 0-100km/h time of 15.8 seconds. Fuel economy was listed at 11.1 litres per 100km on the ADR Combined cycle.

The leather seat package fitted to the auction model was originally a $2620 option, the alloy wheel and Black Pack package adding a further $2800. Privacy glass was a $530 option and the third-row seats in leather $2300. Side steps ($740) and metallic paint ($800) were also optioned on the auction example.