Isbark.com

Land Rover Classic has just pulled a bit of a blinder by pulling the silks from a new (but it’s actually old!) soft top Defender V8. An official restomod, the Land Rover Classic Defender V8 Works Bespoke Soft Top (phew!) is the first example of the classic model to be officially released since production of the original model ended in 2016, though the project was announced last year with different looks shown.

Land Rover Classic, the heritage arm covering 76 years of history for the British brand, starts by sourcing a donor, short-wheelbase Defender 90 built between 2012 and 2016, which is then rebuilt and re-engineered by hand from top to rugged bottom.

Loads More Power

The Defender’s original 2.2-liter diesel engine, for example, is the first thing to hit the spare part’s cupboard, as this is replaced by a 5.0-liter gasoline V8 that punches out a sizeable 405-horsepower – more than three times the output of the original diesel – and 380 lb-ft of torque, enabling the Soft Top to hit 0-60 mph in a sprightly 5.6 seconds.

Bear in mind, this is still an off-road weapon that weighs just over two tons. Said horsepower and torque are fired through a four-wheel-drive setup (obviously!) and a new ZF eight-speed automatic transmission, the likes of which you’d also find in the Range Rover Sport or any number of BMWs.

Related

The First Go-Faster Land Rover Defender Was Powered By One Of BMW’s Best Six Cylinders

Land Rover was able to fit a BMW engine to a sporty Defender in the South African market. How did this come about and what was its story?

Roof Frame Inspired By North American ‘NAS 90’ From Mid-90s

Obviously, the headline feature of each build is the roof frame, which has been specifically designed for the Soft Top and was inspired no less by the setup used on the original North American Specification ‘NAS 90’ imported to North America from 1992 onwards. You needn’t worry about that bespoke fabric roof flapping around whilst you’re putting that 0-60 mph claim to the test either, as extra tie-down points have also been added to keep the canvas securely stowed at speed.

Unsurprisingly, to tackle the increased performance, Land Rover Classic has also replaced the brakes and suspension componentry. New four-piston calipers, front and rear, have been sourced from British specialist Alcon, while new Bilstein dampers, Eibach anti-roll bars, and coil springs have also been incorporated to make sure the Soft Top respects the esteemed badge on its nose. Wheel options include either 16-inch ‘Wolf’ or 18-inch ‘Sawtooth’ designs.

Related

This Range Rover Restomod Stands Out With Fun Features

Don’t be fooled by the restrained exterior.

You Can Even Order One With A Wine Cooler!

This being both a restomod and a new model from Land Rover Classic, there are “near-limitless” customization options for customers to choose from as part of Land Rover’s new Works Bespoke program. There are 49 different paint finishes to choose from for the outside, for example, and if somehow none of those meet your edifying standards, a ‘match-to-sample’ service has also been introduced. There are ‘only’ four canvas roof options to choose from, but to quell the howls of disappointment, a smaller Bikini Hood (stop it…) is also available to cover driver and passenger in the front seat.

The cabin, meanwhile, is decked out in either two-tone leather or five monotone schemes, and, just to really add to the experience, Land Rover Classic is also offering unorthodox options like an onboard wine cooler and even a custom surfboard rack in a bid to “create one‑off examples to suit any lifestyle.”

Related

The Most Gorgeous Restomods Ever Created

Perfection is possible, at a price, so any classic can get a new lease on life.

Prices for each made-to-order example start from £195,000 plus taxes ($259,783 at the time of publication), and while no official word on United States imports has been made, a North American influence to the build suggests models could cross the Atlantic around the quarter-million dollar mark.

Land Rover Classic Defender V8 Works Bespoke Soft Top Quick Specs