The long answer to, “What’s that you’re driving?!”

[Granite Deer]

I get asked about the Grenadier often enough. We’ve probably all had curious strangers ask us about them because they look kind of familiar.
My answers to their questions always seemed long. There’s the backstory about the classic Defender going away, the design ethos, the engineering influences.

After telling my version of it a few times, I decided to just write it down in case it’s useful to anyone else…

Embracing Analog: The Ineos Grenadier

Driving the fine line between Analog and Digital in an Ineos Grenadier

jeff.henshaw.org

Of course, this is just one person’s perspective (mine) but some of the points probably resonate. If you’ve written up your own take on why you bought it, I’d love to read it to compare notes.

Enjoy!

 

[Tazzieman]

I used to get caught up with the old well worn story; nowadays I say "it's a Chinese knockoff Defender"
Only if I get a "don't believe you" look/ response do I expand. A bit

 

[CRH]

I get asked about the Grenadier often enough. We’ve probably all had curious strangers ask us about them because they look kind of familiar.
My answers to their questions always seemed long. There’s the backstory about the classic Defender going away, the design ethos, the engineering influences.

After telling my version of it a few times, I decided to just write it down in case it’s useful to anyone else…

Embracing Analog: The Ineos Grenadier

Driving the fine line between Analog and Digital in an Ineos Grenadier

jeff.henshaw.org

Of course, this is just one person’s perspective (mine) but some of the points probably resonate. If you’ve written up your own take on why you bought it, I’d love to read it to compare notes.

Enjoy!

If you go through that every time someone asks what it is, they will wish they hadn't
Good write up, only error I spotted was with regards to USB in the armrest cubby only, there are also 2 behind in the passenger area

 

[Jeremy996]

This will come across as picky, but the first Rover utilities were "Land Rovers". "Defenders" did not exist until 1990 with the 200Tdi launch, as Land Rover were concerned about some confusion with the Discovery, launched in 1989.
There is a succession of utility models from 1948 to 2016, but the Wikipedia article recognises Defenders from 1983 to 2016, (starting with the LR110 in 1983, with the LR90 in 1984 and the 127/130 in 1985), which seems defensible as it defines the coil -sprung era. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_Rover_Defender.
There is another Wikipedia article that covers the leaf sprung era, the Series 1 to III, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_Rover_series

(Sorry about that, but it bugs me, especially when JLR uses adverts that equate the current Defender L663 to the 1948 Series 1 )

 

[landmannnn]

This will come across as picky, but the first Rover utilities were "Land Rovers". "Defenders" did not exist until 1990 with the 200Tdi launch, as Land Rover were concerned about some confusion with the Discovery, launched in 1989.
There is a succession of utility models from 1948 to 2016, but the Wikipedia article recognises Defenders from 1983 to 2016, (starting with the LR110 in 1983, with the LR90 in 1984 and the 127/130 in 1985), which seems defensible as it defines the coil -sprung era. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_Rover_Defender.
There is another Wikipedia article that covers the leaf sprung era, the Series 1 to III, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_Rover_series

(Sorry about that, but it bugs me, especially when JLR uses adverts that equate the current Defender L663 to the 1948 Series 1 )

Being even more picky...

Early Land-Rovers were spelt with a hyphen between the the two words.

 

[Krabby]

@Jeremy996 and @landmannnn - Spot on! I'm a Rover nerd so I appreciate your input on this.

The dash in Land-Rover was sometimes interpreted as a "Z" since the "dash" on the old school logo is Z like. I remember reading that in a LR history book but I can't recall which ATM.

 

[Krabby]

As an aside, HTF did I miss this? Hopefully it made its way out the door with Gerry!

New RR logo

 

[CRH]

As an aside, HTF did I miss this? Hopefully it made its way out the door with Gerry!

New RR logo

They've lost the plot

 

[Krabby]

They've lost the plot

The Wilkes brothers must be spinning in their graves. Spence King too (probably at a faster RPM)!

 

[Granite Deer]

If you go through that every time someone asks what it is, they will wish they hadn't
Good write up, only error I spotted was with regards to USB in the armrest cubby only, there are also 2 behind in the passenger area

Good catch - thanks! Just fixed that. Was thinking for the front seats, as I rarely haul passengers that aren't dogs.

 

[Granite Deer]

This will come across as picky, but the first Rover utilities were "Land Rovers". "Defenders" did not exist until 1990 with the 200Tdi launch, as Land Rover were concerned about some confusion with the Discovery, launched in 1989.
There is a succession of utility models from 1948 to 2016, but the Wikipedia article recognises Defenders from 1983 to 2016, (starting with the LR110 in 1983, with the LR90 in 1984 and the 127/130 in 1985), which seems defensible as it defines the coil -sprung era. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_Rover_Defender.
There is another Wikipedia article that covers the leaf sprung era, the Series 1 to III, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_Rover_series

(Sorry about that, but it bugs me, especially when JLR uses adverts that equate the current Defender L663 to the 1948 Series 1 )

Yes, that's picky, but I appreciate it because it's also historically accurate and (IMO) an important element of the rich history here. I just fixed - thanks for the feedback!

 

[Granite Deer]

Being even more picky...

Early Land-Rovers were spelt with a hyphen between the the two words.

Hypen added where appropriate. Picky, but I feel better knowing it's accurate now.

 

[Tom109]

This will come across as picky, but the first Rover utilities were "Land Rovers". "Defenders" did not exist until 1990 with the 200Tdi launch, as Land Rover were concerned about some confusion with the Discovery, launched in 1989.
There is a succession of utility models from 1948 to 2016, but the Wikipedia article recognises Defenders from 1983 to 2016, (starting with the LR110 in 1983, with the LR90 in 1984 and the 127/130 in 1985), which seems defensible as it defines the coil -sprung era. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_Rover_Defender.
There is another Wikipedia article that covers the leaf sprung era, the Series 1 to III, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_Rover_series

(Sorry about that, but it bugs me, especially when JLR uses adverts that equate the current Defender L663 to the 1948 Series 1 )

And don’t forget the 1970 Range Rover!

 

[Jeremy996]

And don’t forget the 1970 Range Rover!

Rover/Leyland did not worry about the Range Rover and the Land Rover getting confused. In 1990, they had three vehicles in build on essentially the same platform, Range Rover, Discovery and the Defender; genius!

 

[Tazzieman]

@Jeremy996 and @landmannnn - Spot on! I'm a Rover nerd so I appreciate your input on this.

The dash in Land-Rover was sometimes interpreted as a "Z" since the "dash" on the old school logo is Z like. I remember reading that in a LR history book but I can't recall which ATM.

View attachment 7920680

Built on purpose , eh? Not a vanity mirror in sight , and no cupholders either!