Operations

Farewell, Landy: Historic Factory Photos of the Land Rover Defender

Jan. 29, 2016

The Jaguar Land Rover plant in Solihull, England, just wrapped up 68 years of production on its plucky Defender, a favorite of Queen Elizabeth II, James Bond and farmers. Some 700 workers and former workers gathered at the plant as the final vehicle rolled off the line. More than 2 million of the workhorse vehicles have been produced, and (urban legend, at least, says) an estimated 75% are still on the road. Here, a look back at some milestone photos of the vehicle, and factory pictures from the 1950s.

Laura Putre

The Jaguar Land Rover plant in Solihull, England, just wrapped up 68 years of production on its plucky Defender, a favorite of Queen Elizabeth II, James Bond and farmers. Some 700 workers and former workers gathered at the plant as the final vehicle rolled off the line. Here, a look back at some milestone photos of the vehicle, and factory pictures from the 1950s.

About the Author

Laura Putre | Senior Editor, IndustryWeek

As senior editor, Laura Putre works with IndustryWeek's editorial contributors and reports on leadership and the automotive industry as they relate to manufacturing. She joined IndustryWeek in 2015 as a staff writer covering workforce issues.

Prior to IndustryWeek, Laura reported on the healthcare industry and covered local news. She was the editor of the Chicago Journal and a staff writer for Cleveland Scene. Her national bylines include The Guardian, Slate, Pacific-Standard and The Root.

Laura was a National Press Foundation fellow in 2022.

Got a story idea? Reach out to Laura at [email protected]