Defender 90 Td5: Heritage Station Wagon (1999)
This is the first Classic that kicked off our collection back in 2016.
In creating their 1999 Heritage Limited Edition, Land Rover sought to remind loyal customers of the brand's proud history that had just turned 50 years. Released in just two choices of colour, the vehicle sought to mimic either the colour of the very first Series I Land Rovers or the more common Bronze Green that soon became the colour by which Land Rover became recognised around the World.
The numbers were small. Just 270 built in total, of which 189 were 90 Station Wagons and 81 the longer wheelbase 110s. All carried the regular Td5 power unit.
By the standards of the day, the car was heavily spec'd to which further enhancements were available as options. Our own Heritage, for example, has overdrive to supplement the regular box. The Heritage is instantly recognisable by the silvered door hinges and (on the 90 versions only) the body coloured wheel hubs. Our vehicle also sports the Guersney registration number under which it was registered during its entire life on the road.
At the end of the day the Heritage was not universally liked. Some of the deign cues were considered a bit contrived. In particular the clumsy and unappealing plastic grill totally failed to portray the wire grills of the past as was intended. That may explain why the number finally sold fell short of the numbers planned by 10%.
Nevertheless we have great affection for this exhibit, it being one of the first vehicles incorporated into the collection and after which the collection is in fact named. So in 2022 this vehicle entered our workshop and enjoyed a 'chassis-up' rebuild. Resulting in the wonderful condition fitting of our anchor Classic that set our collection on its way.
Similar vehicles in our collection: The name "Heritage" was used again by Land Rover as production came to a final conclusion in 2016. Look out for our 2016 Heritage, manufactured in the last month of production and exhibited exactly as it left the factory.
More InfoThe Heritage limited edition station wagon was produced in the Summer of 1999 immediately following on from the very successful 50th anniversary LE. Land Rover's marketing department intended this to be a run of just 300 vehicles aimed at what they termed "Active Lifestyle Owners". There were less of these prepared to invest the required £23,995 in their lifestyle than was hoped as only 270 were eventually built.
The Heritage had an enhanced internal specification, including green leather seats, front and rear, and other subtle finishes that sought to hark back to Land Rover's long heritage. But these were more in the mind than genuine. Ivory coloured dials, aluminium gear knob, leather seats etc. This limited edition is easily recognisable by its characteristic silvered door hinges (which look back to the galvanised metal hinges of the very early Series Land Rovers), body coloured wing mirrors and wheel hubs (which appeared only on the 90's). Most disappointing for Land Rover aficionados was the plastic silver grill. 'Distinctive'? YES. Genuine to the past? 'NO!' Sadly that change to the planned wire grill and the loss from the specification of the intended leather wrapped steering wheel represented last minute cost saving measures.
The Heritage was available as a 90 or 110 station wagon, finished either in, lighter, Atlantic Green (a close approximation to the very original Land Rover colour) or the more traditional Land Rover Bronze Green (the colour that superseded the former and for which early Series Land Rovers are best known). Bronze Green had been de-listed as a standard Land Rover colour 11 year before, back in 1988. The Heritage was reserved exclusively for the UK market.
Our version is one of just 113 Bronze Green 90's built. It was one of two similar vehicles purchased by a Land Rover enthusiast on Guernsey who ran it from new as his day vehicle. From him it passed on to us through our Channel Island scout around the time of the commencement of our collection. It therefore proudly carries its former Guernsey number plate and our collection identifier 'LIM.01' as it is after this very vehicle that our collection was named.
Naturally we have great affection for this first classic in our collection. However, it was not until 2022 that our workshop had the capacity to carry out a total 'chassis-up' re-build. Our Heritage now looks and drives as new and can hold its head up next to its younger cousin from 2016.
16 years on, as Land Rover production was approaching its end, the company rekindled the 'Heritage' mark as one of its final trio of 'end of run' limited editions - Land Rover's 'Last Hurrah'! We have a 2016 mint condition version straight off the line, this time finished in the lighter (Grasmere) Green. And why is it in mint condition? Because, in view of its first registration date being the very day that they switched off the Land Rover production line, we have preserved her with only delivery miles on the clock.
For obvious reasons, both of our Heritage vehicles are often exhibited alongside each other.
Part of:
Defenders
Limited Editions
The Collection
Vehicle Owner: Land Rover Heritage Collection
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