Rowan ‘Mr. Bean’ Atkinson’s Rare Defender 110 Heritage Edition Is Heading to Auction

Rowan Atkinson may have driven a modest green Mini as Mr. Bean, but he prefers Aston Martins and Land Rovers in real life.

The world-famous English actor, who happens to be an avid car collector, enlisted Iconic Auctioneers to find him one of the rare Land Rover Defender 110 Heritage Editions produced between 2015 and 2016. The auction house found him an example that was delivered new to its first owner in 2015. Atkinson is now auctioning off said model at the Iconic Auctioneers Race Retro Sale in Stoneleigh, England, on February 24.

Land Rover launched the Defender Celebration Series in 2015 to mark the end of the off-roader’s 67-year production run. The series included three stylish riffs on the classic Defender: Heritage, Adventure, and Autobiography.

Inspired by early Land Rovers, the Heritage Edition was limited to just 400 examples. Each model features a Grasmere Green body, an Alaskan White roof, a Heritage-style grill, headlamp surrounds, and heavy-duty steel wheels. The seats are covered with almond upholstery and adorned with the Heritage logo. Other interior highlights include a perforated leather steering wheel and gear lever, as well as aluminum trim for the air vents, door handles, and door locks.

This particular example has covered only 3,800 miles from new, according to the auction house. It has also been correctly serviced, well maintained, and professionally stored. Atkinson decided to add a factory-specification tow bar and electrics, as well as an air-conditioning system for roughly $5,421 (£4,278). He also added a car alarm.

“Rowan Atkinson is a well-known petrolhead and Land Rover enthusiast, so this vehicle has been cherished and lightly used as part of his personal collection,” Iconic Auctioneers chairman Nick Whale said in a statement.

Mr. Bean’s Defender is expected to hammer down for between $82,400 and $101,400 (£65,000 and £80,000) at the auction in Stoneleigh Park. It won’t be the only rare Land Rover at the sale, either. One of just 300 Defender 110 V8s released in honor of No Time To Die in 2021 will also go under the gavel at the February auction. Offered directly from the first owner, the Bond Edition is one of 10 U.K.-supplied examples and has just 700 miles on the dial. It is expected to sell for between $196,500 and $221,800 (£155,000 and £175,000). Sure beats a Mini.