The Defender Edge

From the Vineyard to the Gulf

By Hailey Bethke | Photography by Cooper Murray and Spencer Mattix

Cooper Murray founded the Vineyard Series at the end of 2020 while he was a college sophomore, driven by an entrepreneurial spirit and a strong desire to unite a like-minded community. “The original vision was to create a two-hour Sunday morning event on Martha’s Vineyard with thirty Classic Land Rovers,” he explains. “This sort of thing had never been done on the island before—let alone really anywhere in the country.” The inaugural event in August of 2021 quickly captured the attention of Land Rover fans nationwide, with the expected thirty vintage Land Rovers transforming into eighty, representing over fifteen different states. In 2022, Murray expanded the series to Cape Cod and Nantucket, and by 2024, he took it bicoastal, adding events in Charleston, South Carolina, and Montecito, California.

It’s fitting that the first event of the Vineyard Series was held on Martha’s Vineyard, as that is where Murray’s passion for Land Rovers began. “I’ve been obsessed with vintage Defenders for as long as I can remember,” he begins. “I grew up spending summers on the island with my family, where we always had either a vintage Jeep or Land Rover. Martha’s Vineyard has a high concentration of these old Land Rovers, which only amplified my interest in them.”

“As much as I might like to say otherwise, I live and breathe Classic Land Rovers,” Murray admits. While the aesthetic appeal naturally draws in car enthusiasts, he finds the history even more captivating.

Today, Land Rovers can be found in every corner of the world. Even before their global expansion, they were highly sought after by notable figures such as Bob Marley, Queen Elizabeth II, and Ralph Lauren. “Land Rovers fought and won wars, starred in movies, and crossed terrain that no other vehicle could previously pass. Now, decades later, these trucks have taken on a new life. But history is rarely forgotten. Some Land Rovers driving around Scenic Highway 30-A likely drove across the Sahara Desert thirty years ago.”

The Vineyard Series has partnered with Adventure Motorcars in Birmingham, Alabama, to host its inaugural event in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, in April 2025. Stephen Ogletree, the owner and founder of Adventure Motorcars, has long been a supporter and attendee of the 30A Sand Rover Rally, which attracted vintage car enthusiasts from the Southeast for nearly a decade before concluding in 2023. Around that time, Ogletree and Murray connected to discuss how their brands could collaborate to create a similar lifestyle event in the area.

The two collaborated to host The North American Series, highlighting the Defender models specifically designed for the U.S. market. “Technically speaking, North American Specification Defenders had a few major differences from most of their international counterparts, such as Gas V8 engines, added safety features to meet US regulations, new colors, and air conditioning,” Murray says. “But what makes them most special and desirable is that they are ultra-limited.”

Land Rovers fought and won wars, starred in movies, and crossed terrain that no other vehicle could previously pass. Now, decades later, these trucks have taken on a new life. But history is rarely forgotten. Some Land Rovers driving around Scenic Highway 30-A likely drove across the Sahara Desert thirty years ago.

Between 1993 and 1997, only about seven thousand vehicles were manufactured. The Defender 110 was produced solely in 1993, with only five hundred thirty-four units available for North American buyers. Each model introduced a new limited-edition feature, enhancing exclusivity and reinforcing Land Rover’s signature cool factor.

For instance, in 1997, the Defender 90 NAS was released in an exclusive run of Willow Green, with only three hundred units available for purchase. Similarly, in 1994, fewer than one hundred ninety soft-top models were produced in the limited-edition color Arles Blue. This aspect of rarity makes NAS Defenders highly collectible and sought after globally. Each vehicle has a badge number, such as NAS Defender 110 #114/500, to highlight its uniqueness and rarity.

Today, any Defender model can be imported to the United States as long as it is twenty-five years old or older. This means that the Land Rovers you see on the roads come from various parts of the globe, beyond the specifications designed for the North American Market. While this has lessened the rarity of Land Rover Defenders in the USA, consumer excitement for the ultra-limited NAS Defender remains high.

Murray and Ogletree in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, would be the ideal location to host the North American Series. This event would not only continue the legacy of the Sand Rover Rally but also provide Land Rover enthusiasts with a fresh and curated experience in a town already abundant with NAS models.

Of course, there are countless Classic Land Rover events across the U.S., many of which Murray attends regularly. But what sets the Vineyard Series apart is the lifestyle, visionary approach that appeals to both seasoned Land Rover enthusiasts and curious passersby. Rather than off-roading, there’s a greater emphasis on quality craftsmanship and an almost art-like appreciation.

The April 2025 event at Gulf Place marked the largest gathering of NAS Defenders in history, featuring over thirty-five vehicles, including all nine standard colors from eleven states. Ogletree and Murray expressed excitement about uniting such a unique group of owners and guests. Just a few hours later, meaningful friendships were formed, business deals were made, and new events began to take shape.

Among those who genuinely appreciate NAS Defenders, there’s an unspoken code: you’ve got to be grounded and effortlessly cool, just like the vehicles themselves. Conversations unfold naturally, bound by a shared reverence and deep-rooted passion for these iconic builds.

The next waypoint for the Vineyard Series? A return to 30-A in 2026, for starters. Murray has a comprehensive vision of more vehicles, exclusive partnerships, and bespoke touches that he hopes to bring back to the beach next year. This summer also marks the fifth anniversary of the flagship event on Martha’s Vineyard, which will host over one hundred Land Rovers for a three-day event.

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To connect with Murray and see a complete list of upcoming Vineyard Series events, please head to TheVineyardSeries.com and follow along on Instagram @vineyardseries.