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Land Rover Defender 110 “Project Sweet Pea” Restomod Packs LT4 Supercharged V8 Muscle

E.C.D. Automotive Design, the world’s largest Land Rover restoration company, has finished yet another fantastic-looking restomod. An older 110 served as the canvas for this build, which is rocking an eight-speed automatic and a supercharged V8 powerplant of General Motors origin.

The coil-sprung Defender was introduced in 1983 as the Land Rover One Ten, followed by the Ninety in 1984, with these numbers spelled in full. The replacement for the Land Rover series would be renamed for the 1991 model year Defender, which came in short-wheelbase 90 and long-wheelbase 110 flavors. North America received the 110 for the 1993 model year, whereas the 90 was offered from 1994 through model year 1997.

Extensively modified to comply with U.S. regulations, the Defender 110 was originally equipped with a Buick 215-based Rover V8 engine, LT-77 five-speed manual transmission, and LT230 transfer case. The subsequent Land Rover Defender 90 that replaced the 110 stateside was canned over airbag and side-impact requirements introduced for 1998.

500 units of the NAS Defender 110 were delivered stateside, plus 25 to Canadian customers, making it the most valuable of North American-spec vehicles. Even after the European 110 became eligible for importation, the NAS Defender 110 continued to be revered by off-road enthusiasts.

“Project Sweet Pea” isn’t a NAS Defender 110, but a 1995 model that was imported under the 25-year rule. A one-off commission finished in Ford Brittany Blue Metallic, the Landy pictured in the gallery features white wing top checkers, wing top air intakes, and side steps. The 16-inch alloy wheels are mounted with BFGoodrich all-terrain rubber boots, as you would expect from an off-road vehicle. Up front, you’ll notice the original grille gone in favor of the Kahn X-Lander from British outfit Project Kahn.

Finished in white and yellow, said grille is complemented by an ARB bull bar that promises extensive front-end protection. It further integrates a remote-controlled winch supplied by Warn. The 2+2+4 interior flaunts Recaro Sportster Cross front seats with custom-embroidered headrests.

The middle-row seats are also featured, whereas the load area boasts four inward-facing jump seats. The Caressa Porcelain leather upholstery benefits from Chatham Navy accents and alligator inserts. The wood grain steering wheel frames Esquire instrumentation, and on-board entertainment comes courtesy of a Kenwood eXcelon head unit connected to Infinity Kappa speakers and a subwoofer. Lacquered teakwood flooring in the cargo area and four mid-section cupholders pretty much seal the deal.

E.C.D. Automotive Design didn’t mention what kind of numbers that LT4 generates at the crankshaft, but we do know that Chevrolet sells an LT4 crate engine with 640 horsepower and 630 pound-feet (854 Nm) of torque on deck. Essentially an LT1 with a blower on top, the LT4 produces these figures thanks to an Eaton R1740 TVS supercharger that spins at up to 20,000 revolutions per minute, generating more than 9 pounds of boost.


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Article Credits: Mircea Panait
Full Articles: https://www.autoevolution.com/news/land-rover-defender-110-project-sweet-pea-restomod-packs-lt4-small-block-v8-muscle-208426.html

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Highly-Modified Land Rover Defender 90 Owned by Jenson Button Is Up for Auction

Jenson Button has had a stellar Formula 1 career, having been crowned World Champion in 2019. His fans and the general public are used to seeing him driving racing cars, but in his day-to-day life, Button also drives regular cars, like the Land Rover Defender you see here.

Well, this particular Defender is not actually so “regular,” as it features a slew of modifications that make it strongest and more capable than your ordinary Land Rover. Some of the most notable upgrades include a V8 powertrain, uprated suspension, and a revised interior.

This bespoke example started life as a 1988 Land Rover 90, so it precedes the name “Defender,” which only became official in 1990. According to Collecting Cars, which currently has the vehicle up for sale, the Land Rover received an LS3 V8 upgrade in 2015 and a plethora of other improvements around the same time, most of them performed by Urban Automotive, self-described as “bespoke modifiers of luxury automotive brands.”

The rugged, boxy vehicle is now powered by a 6.2-liter Chevrolet Corvette LS3 V8 crate engine producing 430 hp (436 ps) at 5,900 rpm and 425 lb-ft (576 Nm) of torque at 4,600 rpm. Power is sent back to all four wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission.

It rides on 18-inch by 9-inch Coastline Defender alloy wheels wrapped in 285/60R18 BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A K02 tires, which make it look wider without spacers. It also enjoys uprated suspension and brakes.

The interior also benefitted from a series of improvements and is now boasting Recaro bucket seats, folding seats in the back, a Puma-style Defender dashboard, air conditioning, electric windows, a more powerful sound system, and more.

The 1988 Land Rover 90 has received a new coat of Velocity Blue paint, with gloss black accents on the roof, the grille, wing vents, and side protection runners.

Seeing the upgrades this pickup truck has received, it’s no wonder it piqued Jenson Button’s attention, who is said to have owned the vehicle for around three years, though we don’t know the exact period.

This highly-modified Defender is up for auction on Collecting Cars and is offered with 4,085 miles (6,574 km) on the clock, which seems to be the mileage registered since the engine swap.

Article Credits: Ancuta Iosub
Full Articles: https://www.autoevolution.com/news/highly-modified-land-rover-defender-90-owned-by-jenson-button-is-up-for-auction-206607.html



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One-of-500 2023 Land Rover Defender 110 30th Anniversary Is Up for Grabs for $92k

Right now, if you want a Land Rover Defender in America, the absolute ‘cheapest’ is the four-door 110 with the gasoline P300 (296 hp) two-liter, starting from an MSRP of $53,500.

Then you can rock an ‘S’ version, SE, X-Dynamic SE, P400 (395 hp, MHEV inline-six) ‘X’ grade, switch to the V8, and even treat yourself to the V8 Carpathian Edition, getting up to no less than $118,400 when starting the configuration. But, aside from the Carpathian, none of them is all too collectible.

As opposed to the pricey 75th Limited Edition Defender 90 and 110, or the North American-exclusive 2023 Land Rover Defender 110 30th Anniversary Edition. The latter, designed to celebrate the iconic nameplate’s three decades of local market presence, was only offered with a strictly limited production of just 500 examples, all sold for the 2023 model year like the proverbial collectible hotcakes. So, how do you come in possession of one?

Well, easy, as New York-based Motorcar Classics says it has yet another collector-grade vehicle up for grabs, this time a British SUV that was remade in North American drabs. And what do you know, if it isn’t precisely the 2023 Land Rover Defender 110 S 30th anniversary edition ‘smiling’ for the studio photoshoot?

The dealership notes this Fuji White Defender 110 S with an Ebony interior has just 68 miles on the odometer, which equates to a mere 109 km, making it of the fabled “as new” variety. Powered by the entry-level 2.0-liter turbocharged four-pot with 296 hp, this posh British SUV is also hooked to an eight-speed automatic transmission to make even 4×4 driving as effortless as possible.

Naturally, we are also dealing with a one-owner 30th anniversary example, and additional options include the Cold Climate Package (heated everything: windscreen, washer jets, steering wheel, etc.), the Off-Road Package (electronic active differential, domestic plug sockets, off-road tires), the Towing Package, the Air Suspension Package, and even a Black Exterior Package to provide a sensible tuxedo-style contrasting look.

As for pricing, the quotation stands at $91,900 but one can also hit the “make an offer” button on the dealership’s online portal if that’s not good for you.

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Article Credits: Aurel Niculescu
Full Articles: https://www.autoevolution.com/news/one-of-500-2023-land-rover-defender-110-30th-anniversary-is-up-for-grabs-for-92k-205020.html



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Project Freedom Is a Custom 1985 Land Rover Defender 90 With LT4 Power Under the Hood

If your overlanding trips could use a pinch of good old patriotism, a Florida-based tuner named E.C.D. might be able to help.

Brothers Tom and Elliot Humble grew up in the central English region of the Midlands, just 40 miles away from the Solihull plant where Land Rover’s rugged Defenders were being assembled. Of course, life around the British countryside often meant coming face to face with such machines, so it was only a matter of time before the lads went on to develop a strong affinity for the Defender nameplate.

Tom would eventually get married and move to the United States with his wife Emily, followed by Sir Elliot a bit later on. Come 2013, they joined forces and co-founded E.C.D. Automotive Design in the bustling city of Kissimmee, Florida. Just in case you’re wondering, that acronym stands for East Coast Defender, which leaves no room for any doubt concerning these folks’ specialty.

Not only does E.C.D. take care of importing classic Defenders to the land of the free, but they also tailor each vehicle to the respective client’s individual preference. At first, many aspects of the customization process had to be outsourced, and the crew worked 18-hour days in order to meet their deadlines without cutting any corners.

Slowly but surely, the firm grew in numbers as the years went by, welcoming dozens of new employees and someone whose financial support would finally help them take off. That person goes by the name of Scott Wallace, and his arrival on the scene gave E.C.D. the funding they needed to begin handling everything in-house. Now then, let’s fast-forward to the present day, shall we?

The company is headquartered in a massive 30,000-square-foot (2,800 sqm) facility, where more than 50 bright minds make a living doing what they love. For us to truly grasp the level at which these guys and girls operate, we’ll go right ahead and inspect one of their more recent undertakings.

Enter the aptly-nicknamed Project Freedom – a brutish off-roading juggernaut that had once been an ordinary 1985 Defender 90. Starting with what occupies the engine bay, we find a 6.2-liter supercharged LT4 sourced from General Motors. This fearsome V8 can put down a whopping 650 ponies when solicited, and power travels to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Speaking of footwear, those satin-black, alloy 18-inchers were supplied by the specialists over at Project Kahn, while a set of all-terrain BF Goodrich tires provide ample grip on and off the asphalt. Braking is achieved through premium Brembo hardware at both axles, with E.C.D’s proprietary suspension upgrades making for a smooth ride.

As regards the bodywork-related mods adorning Project Freedom, the squad installed a beefy widebody kit with riveted panels and a four-point roll cage to ensure future occupants’ safety. A custom-made soft top keeps the elements at bay, but the goodies that’ll really catch your attention can be seen up front.

There you’ll notice an imposing bull bar and a bespoke steering guard manufactured from scratch, as well as a Warn winch to help this Defender get out of any sticky situations it may encounter. At the rear end, things are concluded with dual exhaust tips, a spare Kahn hoop, and (interestingly enough) two flag mounts. The latter may not be ideal for departure angle, but it is a pretty cool touch nonetheless – because ‘Murica!

Last but not least, we arrive at the car’s interior, where E.C.D. fitted heated and ventilated Corbeau front seats, a high-grade Prototipo steering wheel from Momo, and a new dash cloaked in leather. Aftermarket gauges inhabit the instrument cluster, accompanied by a premium infotainment system with Apple CarPlay compatibility in the center.

A quartet of foldable, inward-facing seats can be found out back, though plentiful legroom doesn’t appear to have been a priority here. Although we’re not sure how much the customer was charged for Project Freedom, what we can tell you is that builds from this tuner are typically priced at around $200k. Well, E.C.D. refers to this menacing Defender as a sleeper, but we reckon it’s just about as subtle as a frigging tank.

Article Credits: Silvian Secara
Full Articles: https://www.autoevolution.com/news/project-freedom-is-a-custom-1985-land-rover-defender-90-with-lt4-power-under-the-hood-206103.html#

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Manhart Performance for Land Rover Defender

Manhart Performance has been in the business of car tuning and modifying luxury cars for over 30 years. The German-based company got its start back in 1980-s when it began modifying BMWs. Today, Manhart is one of the most trusted names in the automotive tuning industry, with a reputation for excellent craftsmanship and attention to detail.

Over the years, Manhart has built up a impressive portfolio of tuned cars, including some of the most iconic BMWs ever made. In recent years, the company has turned its attention to otherluxury brands like Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche. No matter what kind of car you have, Manhart can help you take it to the next level.

Manhart is best known for its engine modifications. The company’s team of expert engineers can increase your car’s power and torque without sacrificing reliability. That means you’ll be able to enjoy your tuned car for years to come without having to worry about constant repairs or breakdowns. In addition to engine mods, Manhart also offers suspension upgrades, brakes, wheels, and exterior styling options to give your car that extra bit of flair.

MANHART is also known for its ability to develop and produce high-quality performance products that optimize weight. Their product portfolio includes carbon fiber parts, exhaust systems, and wheel/tyre combinations. They also offer unique projects that include visual enhancements both inside and out.

According to MANHART Performance’s philosophy, individuals who don’t want to settle for the normal should be able to find what they’re looking for in an extraordinary vehicle. Their goal is to create vehicles that display their power openly. Although performance potential and understatement may seem like opposites at first, they can be combined to create a unique experience for the driver.

They, of course, offer aftermarket parts for the Land Rover Defender as well. Parts such as wheelsets, headlining, custom tailpipes, and floormats are all available to make your Defender even more unique.