Meet Lleida, a 1-of-1 1991 Land Rover Defender restored in Spain and headed for a new home in America.

Nowadays, if you think about manufacturing a car, what comes to your mind? Probably a big factory full of robots working autonomously, right? Well, if we’re talking about the classic off-roader you see here, a 1991 three-door Defender, you can forget all that.

Thankfully, there is still space for small artisan workshops like Defender & Friends, a tiny Spanish company whose work focuses on restoring, preparing, and installing modern components on decades-old Land Rover models. In other words, they create unique restomods that still maintain the essence of the original vehicles.

Each project starts with a name, which always refers to the place where the original vehicle was found. In this case, it’s Lleida, a city in Spain’s northeastern Catalonia region. These exotic place names are especially interesting considering most of Defender & Friends’ creations end up in the United States.

Ermengol Molins is the co-founder of the company and we met in quite an unusual way. We were introduced by a good friend, Miguel Quintana, at the 2021 Spain Classic Rally. I could not imagine back then, when we were talking next to his stunning Toyota Celica GT-Four (ST205), that a few months later I would be driving one of his creations.

The first meeting eventually led to the D&F workshop in the province of Barcelona, where I was able to get a better look at how the restoration process works. 

Of course, there are several levels of updating and modernization of the vehicles, with different prices and timeframes for each. The point of entry is the equivalent of about $35,000, with a timeline of roughly three and a half months. However, most projects are frame-off restorations, which can take up to a year. Such was the case with the Lleida on this test drive.

It’s striking to see models completely disassembled in the workshop, with the chassis on one side and the bodywork on the other, as if it were a 1:24 scale Tamiya kit

In cases like the Lleida, (a model priced at $150,000), modern technologies are added and contemporary materials such as carbon fiber or natural leather are also used, along with exquisite restoration work. For example, we are talking about a three-spoke sports steering wheel, a multimedia system compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, air conditioning, and heated sports seats, just to name a few. That’s in addition to welcome lights or ambient lighting systems in the rear, which has a double side bench specification.

Obviously, the engine, transmission, and transfer case are completely overhauled, while improvements are made to the brakes, steering, and suspension. The latter, for example, has four different stiffness settings on the Lleida. 

On the road, the model is nowhere near what an original Defender offered 31 years ago. And this is an important point: to enter the U.S. without problems, cars must be at least 25 years old and keep the original engine.

In the case of this model, the engine is the more than proven 200 TDI diesel, which delivers 112 horsepower and is linked to a five-speed manual transmission. Also, as a proper off-roader, it has a four-wheel-drive system and a proper low-range gearbox, all to keep Lleida moving when the terrain gets tricky.

It’s all complemented by BFGoodrich off-road tires, which are mounted on black multi-spoke alloy wheels, made by renowned specialist Kahn Design.

In addition to its off-road capabilities, buyers also want to have an exclusive product, tailor-made and full of personality. To drive a unique car that your neighbor can never have, shall we say.

This is why D&F works hand in hand with the buyer, who can choose every last detail about the car. This is something that can be taken to the extreme, as we saw with another model in the workshop. It was being completely restored, but the rims retained the original rust. Why? The customer wanted the car to continue to show part of its history.

Back to the Lleida: it feels nothing like a 30-year-old Defender. The engine runs extremely smooth (for an old diesel, at least), and operating the gearbox is a delight thanks to the action of the shifter. 

In general, the soundproofing of the cabin is much better, due to the use of insulated glass. And the good work carried out on the suspension is noticeable after just a few kilometers of driving. In short, the car has been built to be fully usable on a daily basis.

The driving position is still quite peculiar. In fact, you might remember that it was typical on this model to keep hitting the driver-side window with your left elbow. But everything is now surrounded by a more luxurious atmosphere, due to the care that has been put into the choice of materials.

And so, little by little, you gain more and more confidence in it. Each time you go through the gears, you begin to discover that the engine still has a lot to offer (even though 112 hp is almost unthinkable today). You can also see how the level of steering precision and stability has improved compared to what the original models offered.

And that’s the end of our test with this very special car. Born from the passion of a small group of enthusiasts, Lleida will soon be crossing the ocean to meet the American buyer. That lucky person has something truly special, a one-of-one vehicle to drive and fall in love with.

Gallery: Land Rover Defender Restomod Defender & Friends

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A Dutch company has lifted the lid of Land Rover’s iconic off-roader – and it has an eye-watering price.

The Land Rover Defender will soon be available as a convertible, with little-known Dutch coachbuilder Heritage Customs offering to chop the roof off for €84,700 ($AU120,000) – in addition to the cost of the donor car.

Dubbed the Valiance and based on a standard Defender 90 short wheelbase, the new soft-top is now available for pre-order. However, production for customers won’t begin until later this year.

According to Heritage Customs, the vehicle is “a more heroic version of the Defender” and the ultimate “limited edition coach-built motorcar.”

Buyers are required to supply their own car, with the €84,400 conversion cost in addition to the vehicle’s RRP.

This means it’s unlikely a convertible Defender can be had for less than €130,000 ($AU190,000) in its most basic guise.

The conversion can reportedly be applied to any short wheelbase Land Rover Defender with six-cylinder or V8 power. For now, Heritage Customs does not offer any engine power upgrades.

However, bespoke 20-inch ‘Space Cowboy’ alloy wheels, a revamped interior, and exterior badging are added as part of the deal.

Just five examples of the Valiance will be built this year, however the manufacturer says it may increase production in the future.

_{^{Article Credit: William Davis
Full Articles: https://www.drive.com.au/news/land-rover-defender-convertible-unveiled/}}

Pretty rare in the United States, the body-on-frame Defender is a no-nonsense overlander with enough room for the kids and family dog. Instead of a clattery old diesel, the off-road machine we’re covering today is rocking an LS3 with fuel rail covers that feature the Corvette script.

Installed by Charleston-based Arkonik back in 2020, the LS3 was introduced as the Corvette’s base engine for the 2008 model year with 430 horsepower and 424 pound-feet (575 Nm) on deck. The 6.2-liter mill breathes in through a custom air intake, and it’s kept cool by an aluminum radiator with dual electric fans. We don’t know for certain how potent this particular small-block powerplant is, but it’s more than adequate for the restomoded Landy.

Offered on Bring a Trailer with a sales invoice that lists a total cost of $232,965 and a 2019 order date, the Defender 110 is finished in Corris Gray Metallic over Satin Black for the wheel-arch flares. The KBX Signature front grille is complemented by a Warn Zeon winch. From the side profile, highlights include the Fire & Ice steps, Optimill door handles, and Front Runner roof rack. Out back, there’s a ladder, a full-size spare, and a receiver hitch.

Upgraded with 18-inch Kahn Design 1948 alloys finished in satin black, the Landy rides on 265/75 rubber boots that are perfectly suited for driving on rocks, sand, through mud and ruts. Equipped with an LT230 dual-range transfer case, introduced in 1983 in the One Ten, this rig also boasts a six-speed automatic from General Motors. As expected, it’s the Hydra-Matic 6L80 used in the C6 and C7 Corvette from 2006 to the 2014 model year.

Retrimmed by Ruskin Design in Wet Sand leather upholstery, the interior is a real treat. A wood-rimmed steering wheel frames a 120-mph (193-kph) speedometer and a six-digit odometer that shows less than 3,800 miles (6,116 kilometers). With seven days left on the ticker, the LS3-powered 1991 Land Rover Defender 110 currently sits on a high bit of $90,000. 

_{^{Article Credit: Mircea Panait
Full Articles: https://www.autoevolution.com/news/1991-land-rover-defender-110-arkonik-restomod-looks-mean-packs-ls3-muscle-186452.html}}

Land Rover is working on a Defender V8 in SVR specification, and our spy photographers have caught one example as it was driven on the Nürburgring. While it may be unusual to think of an off-roader with a powerful V8 engine to be driven on the ‘Ring, we have seen truly unusual vehicles on the world’s most demanding track.

Now, back to the matter at hand, it appears that someone has bothered to camouflage the body of this Defender V8 SVR as if nobody could identify it once they were done. As an old Windows error once wrote, “Task failed successfully.”

Moving on, you can observe that there is something off with this Defender, as it comes with massive fender flares, as well as large alloy wheels. The latter has a design that conceals the brake rotors and calipers with ease, which means that Land Rover can hide just about any kind of stopping power behind those less than beautiful alloy wheels.

In case you have any doubts, this vehicle is going to need all the stopping power it can get, as it is supposed to have a twin-turbo V8 under its hood, except North of 500 horsepower on tap, with some sources claiming as much as 600 horsepower.

If you know a bit of physics, you just require a bit of imagination to figure out that this vehicle will be fast off the line, and that it will be able to reach speeds that were previously unimaginable for a stock Defender. Those velocities are also unnatural for a vehicle with this shape, size, and claimed purpose in life, but here we are.

Massive brakes should be standard for the Defender V8 SVR, and those wheels do an excellent job of hiding them. The Nürburgring’s corners will put them to the test, while the suspension will also have a lot of work to do. That is when the wider track comes into play, and new tires will come with this version from the factory.

Although this prototype is based on the Defender 110, you should expect to see the V8 SVR variant in Defender 90 bodies as well. There is no word on a Defender 130 V8, but that would be another matter.

If enough wealthy people call up their Land Rover dealers, all hands might be on deck for this. After all, we are writing about the Special Vehicle Rating division. 

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Full Articles: https://www.autoevolution.com/news/2023-land-rover-defender-v8-svr-looks-happy-to-see-us-lifts-a-wheel-on-the-ring-186138.htm}l}

The Land Rover Defender range will soon be expanded with the longer 130 variant which has been spied again, this time in V8-powered guise. Despite its massive length, a camouflaged prototype of the performance-focused SUV was caught testing at the Nürburgring showing its faster bits.

The prototype is covered in black and white camo but we can see most of the design features signifying the presence of a V8 under the bonnet. Those include the 22-inch five-spoke wheels finished in Satin Dark Grey, the tinted headlights, and the quad exhaust pipes sticking out from underneath the rear bumper.

The Defender 130 is expected to measure 5,100 mm (200.8 inches) which would make it 342 mm (13.5 inches) longer than the Defender 110 and a massive 777 mm (30.6 inches) longer than the Defender 90. The extra length is visible to the naked eye in the stretched rear overhang that makes the Defender look like an off-road school bus. This will result in a full-size three-row cabin layout and plenty of room for luggage.

Powertrain details

From the current Defender V8 range (90 and 110) that was introduced in 2021, we already know the specifications of the mighty engine. The supercharged 5.0-liter V8 produces 518 hp (386 kW / 525 PS) and 846 Nm (625 lb-ft) of torque, sending power to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic gearbox. The model comes standard with the Electronic Active Rear Differential, while featuring a stiffer setup for the active suspension, larger anti-roll bars, a Yaw Controller system, and an extra Dynamic program in the Terrain Response Selector.

The Land Rover Defender 130 – first hinted at during a presentation back in 2019 – was supposed to join the three-door 90 and the five-door 110 a lot earlier, but its debut was postponed due to the pandemic. Last year, Land Rover CFO Adrian Mardell revealed that the Defender 130 would arrive by August 2022 during a call with investors. This sounds plausible judging from the nearly production-ready look of the latest prototypes.

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Full Articles: https://www.carscoops.com/2022/04/xl-sized-2023-land-rover-defender-130-spied-with-v8-engine-and-quad-exhaust-pipes/
Photo Credits: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien}}