Reviving Classic Cool: First-Gen Land Rover Defender Restored to Perfection

Boasting an unprecedented state of restoration
Appearance of the first generation Land Rover Defender
A closer look at the exterior and interior features

The first-generation Land Rover Defender, a vehicle favored by the Queen of England, is still loved today due to its strong design and symbolic position. Even though it has been about 4 years since the 2nd generation model was launched, many enthusiasts only recognize the previous model.

Especially in Europe and the United States, where vehicle modifications are relatively unrestricted, models based on the first-generation Defender continue to emerge. Several of these models have captured significant attention for their distinctive individuality, and the current model is also gaining considerable attention for its unique appearance.

The uniqueness of the classic Defender was restored over approximately 1,000 hours

This model, which looks utterly distinct from the existing Defender, is known to be from Retro Automotive, a UK-based company. F1 driver Lando Norris reportedly owns it. The vehicle draws additional attention due to its association with Norris’s team, McLaren Formula 1.

In the case of this model, a comprehensive restoration was carried out over 1,000 hours based on the Land Rover Defender 90. This is because Norris, the vehicle’s owner, had no roof and wanted the interior to be completely exposed. It is also impressive that the wider fenders and modern LED lighting add a special touch.

The exterior is painted in a unique pearlescent Nardo Gray color and features black metal accents and 18-inch alloy wheels finished with grippy BF Goodrich rubber.

The interior is covered in Muirhead Egyptian Blue leather, and the seats and rear bench feature a quilted pattern. It is also noticeable that it is equipped with a detachable Marshall Kilburn II Cube speaker that provides perfect sound while maintaining its robust appearance.

Performance upgrades are also underway
There’s even a pizza oven

This Land Rover Defender’s performance has also been upgraded. It is equipped with adjustable air suspension and better-performing brakes. The powertrain consists of a 3.9L V8 engine and a manual transmission and transfer box rebuilt by Hobsons Industries.

The pizza oven, considered a delicacy of this model, is becoming an element that catches the attention of many netizens. Retro Automotive, a production company established in Yorkshire in 2018, custom-builds only 15 vehicles annually to suit customer tastes. Vehicle delivery usually takes six months, and owners can receive regular updates.