Description
A top hat says more than a thousand words. The Land Rover Defender 90. A car synonymous with snorkels, bull-bars, winches, trenches and African savannas.
Today, the average Defender in the Netherlands has a much easier life. The steepest slope is the bridge on Prinsengracht, and the off‑road to the equestrian centre along the dirt track is already quite a challenge… Boudewijn!
But whatever the case, the Defender remains, practical considerations set aside, an icon.
The four- or five-stroke engine is perfectly suited to plastering through mud and delivers plenty of low‑end torque. The downside is that 0–100 km/ h isn’t any smoother than a teenager’s beard growing in, and the on‑road manners recall a youngster stumbling out of the pub after lockdown.
Tophat has put a smile on the Defender icons, the “AMG and SVR” versions, with a slight grin. How? Fully restored with modified camshafts, a 3. 9‑litre V8, paired with a five‑speed manual gearbox and, of course, a bespoke valve‑exhaust system. Necessary? Absolutely. Fun? Devilishly yes!
And today, you can put the Designo of a G under a different light, but nothing beats the Tophat.
Our Land Rover Defender 90 Tophat: black finish with matched quilted leather upholstery. External roll cage, Land Rover Sawtooth 16‑inch wheels, aluminium wheel arch extensions with a black checkerplate motif, KBX grille and air intake, electronic injection, NAS‑style rear bumper, Tuffy lockable centre console, reversing camera, Apple CarPlay, heated front seats and bespoke audio system.
Enough to carry six passengers. Or rather your surfboard; for Bloemendaal’s beach raids or crowd-surfing over the curious in Laren.
See you soon?
