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Highlights
- Subject to professional 6 wheel drive conversion
- Exceptionally well presented
- Upgraded LS1 V8 engine
- Extensive custom work undertaken
The Appeal
When thinking of rugged, dependable and capable offroaders, there are seldom models that come to mind more so than the Land Rover Defender. A name synonymous with those in the need for a utilitarian vehicle to conquer some of the most challenging terrain the world has to offer. The Defender is undeniably a legend and their continued popularity to this day stands as a wonderful legacy to the beloved model.
Now when most picture the Defender we imagine perhaps a quaint English village with a charming green number sat proudly in front of the local farmhouse, what we don't tend to think of is an, extreme, bespoke, go anywhere urban assault vehicle, and perhaps that's where we’ve been going wrong. An esteemed South African outfit have shown that with a few extra inches of Defender, an extra axle and a thumping great V8 engine thrown in for good measure, one can create an incredibly striking Defender based work of art.
This 2003 Defender pickup now stands, beautifully presented as an incredible 6x6 custom offroad piece and is now looking to find a new loving home, however remote it may be!
The History and Paperwork
- Manufactured 2003
- First registered 09/09/2003
- Started life as a standard Defender which was then stretched out and converted to a 6x6 format
- RHD registered in South Africa
- South African registration document present with the vehicle
The Interior
- Subject to extensive custom upholstery work
- Custom dash panel
- MOMO steering wheel
- Khan Pedal set
The motif of utilitarian simplicity commonly associated with Defender’s and their interiors is not one prevalent within this example. A wonderful compliment to the exterior custom work, substantial reupholstery and bespoke touches have been made inside to give a far more luxurious feel whilst still retaining that rugged appearance a Defender simply has to have.
Taking precedence within the cabin, seating front and rear has been given a thorough overhaul. Still boasting a five seater, two in the front three in the rear layout, the fronts have been swapped out for Recaro bucket seats and upholstered in a black and red mix with quality diamond stitching. The rear passenger seats have also been upholstered in the same colour and style combination and all five present exceptionally well, and look to have seen incredibly limited use in their time.
Focusing on the front of the cabin we find a good quality dash panel, which looks to be in fine fettle, with no signs of cracking or heavy sun damage that we can see. The top section of the panel has been lavishly appointed with yet more sumptuous black leather and in the centre, we find a bespoke control panel and fascia with upgraded head bluetooth navigation and entertainment screen.
The surrounding interior switchgear and plastics, including the colour coded red instrument clusters all look to be of a similarly high quality and present as such. A wonderful MOMO sports style steering wheel also finds itself installed in the cabin.
The surrounding interior switchgear and plastics, including the colour coded red instrument clusters all look to be of a similarly high quality and present as such. A wonderful MOMO sports style steering wheel also finds itself installed in the cabin.
Four quality door panels sit comfortably at the sides of the cabin and look to be in good clean form. These have retained their standard Defender, rugged simplicity and bear just light embellishments and simple door furniture.
The Exterior
- Stretched body with extended wheelbase
- 6x6 conversion
- Fitting all black paint scheme
- Several custom aesthetic touches and embellishments
It’s fair to say subtlety isn’t the key here and certainly wasn't the brief given the designers of this particular Defender. Its bold, its loud, its undeniably cool, certainly its a wonderful demonstration of quality custom work at its finest.
Starting life in standard 130 guise, this Defender has been stretched out in order to accommodate a third axle and a longer truck bed and now stands as a striking 6x6 pickup truck which is far from standard. A marvellous selection of custom touches including bonnet mounted offroad lights, body coloured checker plating, fold down metal window guards and bed mounted exhaust stacks have all been installed to really set the truck off and give it that desired urban assault extreme offroad aesthetic.
Finished in a suave Santorini Black pearlescent colour scheme the paintwork is of an excellent standard throughout, highlighting very minimal if anything in the way of wear or age related marking, giving the truck incredible road presence. At the rear, residing on the tailgate of the extended truck bed, we find a quality engraved decorative mural in a bold red hue.
Six high quality anthracite grey 16” TerraFirma alloy wheels sit at ground level and are in brilliant form, all shod to Cooper STT Pro Discoverer off road tyres. A seventh full size spare tyre and wheel resides in the bed of the truck.
The Mechanics
- Upgraded with an LS V8 engine
- Presented in exceptional mechanical order
- Old man EMU upgraded shocks
- Selectable six wheel drive
In order to gain the performance credentials to back up the aesthetics, the rather underwhelming diesel engine has been swapped out for something far more up to the task. A wonderful example of General Motors 5.3 litre LS1 V8 engine has been nestled under the bonnet, giving the Defender a great deal more grunt and a much needed performance boost. The engine itself looks to be in good clean order and is reported to be in great working order.
To improve off road capability, suspension has been upgraded with a set of Old Man Emu shocks and coil springs, which along with the selectable six wheel drive system, make this Defender unrivalled when the roads get tough.
Summary
Looking for a bold, unique, incredibly capable 4x4? Why not take things up a notch and go for a 6x6 instead. The Defender has always been a cult vehicle adored by those with their eyes set on adventure and this outstanding custom build may well be the ultimate tool for the job in that respect.
With a quality 6x6 conversion completed to an incredibly high standard, and a host of aesthetic and mechanical upgrades including a wonderful LS1 engine swap, this is certainly one to turn heads and is primed and ready for just about anything its new loving owner can throw at it.
BEFORE YOU BUY
With a quality 6x6 conversion completed to an incredibly high standard, and a host of aesthetic and mechanical upgrades including a wonderful LS1 engine swap, this is certainly one to turn heads and is primed and ready for just about anything its new loving owner can throw at it.
BEFORE YOU BUY
This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:
✓ If the seller is registered as a private seller, consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not apply. Car & Classic’s return policy applies.
✓ A non-refundable deposit will be payable if you are the winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for details.
✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is, Where Is’ basis and without warranty. A full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase and bidding is highly recommended. Photos and descriptions are for guidance purposes only.
✓ VAT is included in the buyer's deposit. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing.
✓ Buyers are responsible for vehicle collection or delivery.
