An unsung British Icon retires from service

First Concorde, then the QE2, now the VC10. I hear Land Rover is going to discontinue the Defender. They call it progress, but to what?

As a Landrover buff, and ex L90 V8 owner, I'll be sad to see them go. But it's design now is really showing it's age, and the reality is most farmers these days are happier in a disco or a pick up truck which is more comfortable and doesn't leak when it rains

Plus I think gadgets, traction control, heated seats, and other elecy gizmo's which people expect now have killed it, which you can't take seriously when fitted on a defender. You used to be able to drive round the world in a series III or a L90, and if it broke down, any village in the middle of nowhere that had a black smith, could get you going again

Drive a modern defender through a ford and it will prob short circuit