Famous Trophy model reinterpreted by Land Rover.

THE classic that Land Rover had to leave behind in order to move forward has risen from the grave – in its most famous guise.

The British brand has announced the Defender Works V8 Trophy, a modified version of the previous generation version of the company’s iconic four-wheel-drive, which stopped fullscale production in 2016 and was replaced last year by a far more modern model.

The ‘new-old’ edition is built by Land Rover Classic and designed to pay homage to the brand’s Camel Trophy-winning off-road racer from 1989, now a highly sought-after collectible.

Prices start from over $300,000 for the short wheelbase 90 model – and production will be limited to just 25 examples. It is not known if any will go to customers outside of the United Kingdom.

The original Camel Trophy-winning 1989 was powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder diesel engine. This new homage features Jaguar Land Rover’s 5.0-litre V8, which outputs 297kW and 515Nm of torque. The engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox and sends drive to all four wheels via a two-speed transfer box.

Land Rover has added uprated suspension, new anti-roll bars, improved disc brakes with four-piston calipers and heavy-duty 16-inch steel wheels wrapped in mud-terrain tyres.

Buyers also get a range of functional and cosmetic exterior revisions, including a front winch, a roof rack, a snorkel intake and LED spot lamps. There’s also some extra safety equipment, such as underbody protection panels and an externally mounted multi-point roll cage.

The car’s bodywork is also finished in a similar shade of yellow as the original Camel racer, while its wheel arches, bonnet and rear door are finished in contrasting Narvik Black. LED headlamps also come as standard, along with a heritage radiator grille and special edition “Land Rover Trophy” badging.

The Defender Works V8 Trophy gets a unique clock for the dashboard and an infotainment system designed to look like the original car’s stereo. Land Rover has also added a pair of Recaro seats, trimmed in black leather upholstery and contrasting yellow stitching.

Purchasers also get to compete in an exclusive three-day challenge at Land Rover’s legendary test centre at Eastnor Castle in Herefordshire, England. The event will be the first time customers will drive their new cars and each buyer will receive tuition from a team of seasoned drivers.