At any other gathering of car enthusiasts, one might see buffing cloths loaned, or perhaps a spritz of glass cleaner to remove those last few fingerprints. However, when Land Rover Defenders come together, final show preparations can be a jot more serious. Here, a short in the electrical system necessitates an on the spot repair – the fire extinguisher is just in case something more important combusts.  Where British machinery is concerned, the jokes write themselves: warm beer thanks to Lucas refrigeration; switches featuring three settings – dim, flicker and off. Chuckling owners trade these quips, each as shopworn as the tools scattered about.  And yet, there is a deep and lasting bond here between man and a very special machine. Perhaps due to a combination of grease beneath fingernails and knuckle-skin left on exposed metal, owners of the Land Rover Defender share a link with their vehicles that goes beyond mere possession. The Defender can be as cantankerous as a donkey, but it is as loyal and uncomplicated as a dog. Land Rover is moving to more profitable luxury SUVs and efficient crossovers, winding down the Solihull, England-based production of the Defender by the end of 2015. As most owners will readily admit, their lovable lug will be missed. It is the last and best of the breed.  Firstly, take the Defender’s global appeal. One may be driven by a Singaporean policeman, an Australian farmhand, an Icelandic tour guide or Her Majesty Elizabeth II. It is utterly without caste or pretension, a Wellington boot that doesn't care whether its owner is Cinderella or a South African shepherd.  For some it is a workhorse, permanently infused with a whiff of the barnyard. For others it is the ideal packhorse. David Attenborough, longtime voice of BBC Nature, drove one. So did the British Special Air Service when on manoeuvres in the deserts of Iraq. The Defender is built for adventurers, warriors, explorers and wanderers of all persuasions.  Dave Fraser, member of the Rover-Landers club of British Columbia, is one such wanderer. His military-spec Defender 110 has been as much of a touring companion as the friendly, solid Bernese Mountain Dog that often rides in the back. Together the pair have roamed all over their home province’s interior, escaping from work and city life.  Prior to acquiring both dog and Defender, Fraser was part of a Land Rover expedition that headed deep into the wilds of the Yukon on the Canol Heritage Trail. The Canol runs alongside an oil pipeline abandoned after the conclusion of World War II, and the three Defenders and two Series IIIs of the expedition had a rough time of it. Delving far beyond civilisation, with no support available, the explorers treaded carefully through the rugged terrain. Five Land Rovers left. Five returned.  The original Land Rovers were built with agricultural purpose in the time immediately after World War II. Similar in construction to US Army Jeeps, the first machines had aluminium body panels, a stout chassis and blessedly uncomplicated mechanics. The Defender came along in the early ‘80s with 93in (known as the Defender 90), 110in and 127in wheelbases, sharing both silhouette and philosophy with their forebears.  “The Defender is the last holdout of a classic, utilitarian design,” says Jonathan Ward, founder and chief executive of Icon, a Los Angeles-based builder and restorer specialising in vintage 4x4s. “The last true utility vehicle in the brand range. As the agricultural tool they really are, they get the job done better than almost any other contemporary vehicles.”  Icon enjoys a reputation for capturing the essence of a machine, and then emphasising it further with obsessive attention to detail. Best known for its work on vintage Toyota Land Cruisers and Ford Broncos, Icon has recently completed two Defenders, a 90 and a 110. The 90 is the burlier of the two, with the 110 set up for more modest use. As Ward says of the 110, “It had done three global cross-continental trips in the past, so this was its gentle retirement into the city life.”  There is one other facet of the Defender that is a little unexpected – its singular appeal to the young. Rover-Landers Scott Pelly and Alex DimitrijeviÄ are both owners of late-model Defender 110s, and fathers to young children. “It's the ultimate family vehicle,” says DimitrijeviÄ. “My kids absolutely love it,” says Pelly. At this Rover-Landers meet-up, held annually, there are any number of budding Defender enthusiasts.  For all its virtues, the Defender faces a muddled future. Land Rover has teased a replacement via multiple concepts in recent years, but an unambiguous statement from Solihull to steady enthusiasts’ nerves is yet to arrive. “I am truly shocked by the decision by leadership at the brand to abandon the platform,” Ward says.  If there is a concern that no new Defenders will be built for any next generation of owners, scenes at the Rover-Landers’ meet-up give reason for hope. Like a dry-stone wall in a West Midlands field, the last Defender will have been built to last. Those who love them will preserve the breed, spanners at the ready, fire extinguishers near at hand.  If you would like to comment on this or anything else you have seen on BBC Autos, head over to our Facebook page or message us on Twitter.
With its replacement uncertain, the proto-SUV is being held a bit tighter by its fervent fans, writes Brendan McAleer.