Man who bought 240 Land Rover Defenders in 2015 to make huge profit reveals the bizarre truth of what happened to the 240th car
Published on Jul 09, 2026 at 2:16 PM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Jul 09, 2026 at 2:16 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
The man who bought 240 Land Rover Defenders in 2015 has revealed the bizarre fate of the 240th car.
Charles Fawcett, the founder of Twisted Automotive, was struck with a genius idea when he heard that Jaguar would be ending production of the Land Rover Defender in 2016.
He struck up a deal with him in which he would buy 240 of the off-roaders for $10 million.
His plan was to modify them and sell them on for a profit – but something peculiar happened to the final Defender.
This businessman had a brilliant idea for Land Rover Defenders
It was a sad day for the car world back in 2016 when the Land Rover Defenders ceased production.
But Charles Fawcett saw it as a golden opportunity.
He brokered a deal with Jaguar in which he’d buy 240 Defenders, modify them, and sell them on to make a profit.
Although not plain sailing, the gamble has paid off for Fawcett, with some models selling for as much as $200,000 or even $300,000 each.
“We’re not trying to be Land Rover. We’re just trying to maintain the personal level,” Fawcett explained to Supercar Blondie.
“The personal element of the product. The reality is, nobody needs one.
“There’s no point in owning one – other than how it makes you feel. These things are a complete passion purchase.”
Twisted Automotive was working on around 45 Defenders a year, with each one taking around 2,500 hours to complete.
It’s a big operation, with around 220 staff members working in 14 locations.
But one of the most intriguing elements of this story is the mysterious whereabouts of the 240th Defender.
The fate of Land Rover Defender number 240
When the deal first started out, Fawcett would pick up the Defenders up in batches.
One month, he’d pick up eight, the next month it would be 12.
You get the idea.
There was just one problem – he only received 239.
So what happened to the final Defender?
“They lost one,” Fawcett explained in an interview with the Resto Revival – Car Stories YouTube channel.
It is striking when you think about it – these aren’t exactly vehicles that are hard to miss.
But at any rate, Fawcett still had 239 Land Rover Defenders to work with and that’s better than none.
Timeline of the Land Rover Defender
1948: The Land Rover Series I debuts at the Amsterdam Motor Show.
1958 – 1971: The vehicle evolves through the Series II and Series III, with the recognizable body shape coming to fruition.
1983 – 1984: The aging Series III undergoes a mechanical overhaul, by introducing the 110 and 90, in which coil springs are brought in for improved ride comfort.
1990: After the launch of the Land Rover Discovery in 1989, the 90 and 110 are rebranded as the Land Rover Defender.
1997: Changing federal safety regulations sees the Defender being pulled out of the North American market.
2007: The Defender received a 2.4-litre “Puma” diesel engine from Ford, a new 6-speed manual gearbox, and a completely redesigned dashboard to meet strict European emission laws.
2016: The final classic Defender rolls off the assembly line.
Ben joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025 after being published by international organizations including LADbible, The Sun, the New York Post, and the Daily Mail. He covers supercars, rare and collectible vehicles, aviation, luxury assets, and the fascinating people behind them. His reporting has explored everything from seven-figure supercars and historic Ferrari collections to unusual aircraft adventures and extraordinary automotive discoveries from around the world. Ben has also gained first-hand insight into vehicle craftsmanship and customization, including visiting specialist workshops to see bespoke vehicles up close.
