Defenders: the old and the new

Even writing that headline makes my brain spontaneously combust with reasons the two should never be compared: the ifs and buts, the emotions, the legislation, the history, the politics, the design philosophies, the engineering limitations, the styles, the fashions, the financial pressures and an infinite number of ‘they’ll never be the same’ mutterings from both sides of the pub table. But it’s what Mr Frankel asked me to write…

As a custodian of two classic Land Rovers (only one of which is technically a Defender but for the purposes of this story we’ll let that go), that all makes me a bit sad. I do get it. I get it several hundred per cent. But this is an emotive topic for me so I’ll permit myself to look at it that way, acknowledging as I do that I feel nostalgic for ‘simpler times’, setting aside the inconvenient truth that I wasn’t actually alive during those times I crave.

So forgive me, dear reader, but as is my birthright I’m going full Gen Z here and wearing my emotions loud and proud. Those more inclined towards the stiff upper lip, mustn’t grumble, spirit of the blitz approach to life should probably look away now.