"My first entry point into the Landy lifestyle was my beloved 1963 Land Rover Series 2A, an even cruder contraption than the still-rudimentary Defender it preceded. A few years after that purchase, I dove deeper into addiction by acquiring a 1992 Defender 110 while working remotely in Italy, a logistical and financial dice roll that exchanged expensive car rental fees for the unknowns of a notoriously temperamental truck."
"Despite the D110's chronic porosity - in terms of weather and its oil incontinence - I loved nearly everything about it. But eventually it came time to sell it and move on. Having experienced Defenders in both their most painfully vintage and capably modern forms, I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow when I was invited to drive an early example of the Ineos Grenadier back in 2023."
"British billionaire and founder of Ineos chemicals group Jim Ratcliffe had such a hankering for old-school Defenders that when Jaguar Land Rover pulled the plug in 2016, he made a bid to purchase the tooling equipment and rights to the discontinued model."
The author developed a deep passion for Land Rover Defenders, beginning with a 1963 Series 2A and later acquiring a 1992 Defender 110 while working in Italy. Despite the vehicle's mechanical challenges and weather vulnerabilities, the ownership experience proved rewarding and transformative. After selling the D110, the author gained exposure to both vintage and modern Defender variants. When invited to test an early Ineos Grenadier in 2023, the author approached the evaluation with critical perspective. British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, founder of Ineos chemicals, attempted to purchase the Defender tooling and rights after Jaguar Land Rover discontinued the model in 2016, leading to the creation of the Grenadier as a spiritual successor.
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