By If you’re a land rover custom enthusiast, chances are you’re looking for a way to customize your new vehicle. Whether it’s an interior upgrade, a color change or a new set of wheels, customizing your vehicle will ensure you get exactly what you want.
Do old Defenders hold their value?
The Land Rover has become an icon of off-road prowess, but that doesn’t mean it’s without its share of problems. Rusty engines and a lack of modern amenities can quickly turn a vintage SUV into something you’d rather avoid, but with the help of specialized restoration shops, these classic vehicles are being brought back to life.
ECD Automotive Design specializes in restoring old-school Land Rovers and creating bespoke luxury builds, giving them a sense of purpose and sophistication that the Solihull factory never had in mind. The company’s ‘Project Neo’ proves this, with a long-wheelbase version that gets heated and ventilated Corbeau Racing seats in the front and two forward-facing jump seats in the rear for eight passengers.
Arkonik Limited in Mells, Somerset, also specializes in custom Land Rover Defenders. They start by working with their customers to determine exactly what they want in a build, then source a solid donor vehicle that can fulfill their requests.
North America Overland in Monroe, Connecticut, is a small shop that works to restore vintage Land Rovers and Range Rovers. The team at NAO has been rehabilitating vintage vehicles for a decade in a big barn and, according to owner Mike Sandone, they’ve “mastered the art of taking apart Rovers and bringing them back together.”
There is no fixed timeframe or price on restorations, but, generally speaking, they can take nine months to 16 months and cost anywhere from $74,500 to $85,000. That’s not cheap, but if you’re looking for something unique and custom built from scratch, this is a great option.
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