WHILE IT CARRIES subtle 'GXC 639' graphics on each front wing, the just-announced Classic Defender Works V8 Islay Edition - and breathe - is, says Land Rover Classic's PR man Alistair Sommerville, not just a tribute to the 1965 Spencer Wilks original.
'It's also a celebration of Islay and our association with the island,' he explains. 'Each vehicle will have a bespoke wooden cubby tray made from the oak of the Kilchoman Distillery whisky barrels - no two will be the same - and an oak veneer rear floor that's engineered to current Range Rover standards. The interor also features leather seats part-trimmed in an Islay Woollen Mill tweed that's been specially chosen to reflect the colours of the island: the blue of the sea and sky, the purple of the heather, and the earthy yellow-green of the peaty, grassy landscape?
This story is from the July 2023 edition of Octane.
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This story is from the July 2023 edition of Octane.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Will China Change Everything? - China is tearing up modern motor manufacture but is yet to make more than a ripple in the classic car world. That could be about to change dramatically
China now dominates the automotive world in a way even Detroit in its heyday would have struggled to comprehend.Helped by Government incentives, the new car world is dominated by China's industries: whether full cars that undercut Western models by huge amounts, ownership of storied European brands such as Lotus and Volvo, or ownership and access to the vast majority of raw materials that go into EV cars, its influence is far-reaching and deep. However, this automotive enlightenment hasn't manifested itself in the classic world in any meaningful way - until now.
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