Celebrated English fashion designer Sir Paul Smith is known for his love for automobiles, which has resulted in the creation of several rolling works of art, including the famous Porsche 911 with its vibrant exterior paint job. In 2015, Smith collaborated with Land Rover to create a bespoke Defender 90 that featured 27 colors on the exterior panels. Now, you can own a miniaturized die-cast model of the colorful SUV. To pay tribute to the one-off Defender 90, Smith and Land Rover have extended their partnership to release a limited edition die-cast model of the rugged British SUV, which is exclusively available at Paul Smith’s online store.
The 1:18 die-cast metal collector’s edition meticulously captures all the unique design details of the tailormade Defender for Paul Smith, along with mirroring the SUV’s distinctive charm. The original’s vibrant color pallet was inspired by the British countryside and the colors historically seen on Defenders used by the Armed Forces. The model features working steerable front wheels, opening doors and hood, functioning suspension, and an aerial. The attention to detail continues on the inside with an accurate recreation of the striped interior, reflecting Smith’s signature style. The model measures 24 x 12 x 9 cm and is made out of 60% zinc alloy, 30% plastic, 8% rubber, and 2% metal, ensuring the same level of robustness as the actual Defender. The 1:18 collector’s edition is priced at $235, while a smaller 1:43 model is also available for sale on the designer’s website at $95.
