Ground Up Built Defender 110 Pickup Intercooled Turbo Diesel 5-spd Lifted

In the automotive community, the word “ultimate” gets thrown around quite a bit. Ultimate pro-tourers… Ultimate sports cars… Ultimate street rods… But perhaps no niche owns the word better than the off-roading crowd. “Ultimate” is certainly a fitting descriptor for this incredible Land Rover Defender! Maxing out a fantastic restoration with some of the most hardcore trail elements in existence, this pickup would be right at home shuttling the queen to emergency tea time during the global apocalypse. Fortunately for our purposes, and the sake of continued human existence, it's also an exceedingly neat classic that's sure to turn heads wherever it goes!

WHAT A RIG!

The story of classic Land Rovers is much akin to the stories of classic Jeeps and Land Cruisers: it can be hard to find one that hasn't been driven hard and parked in the elements for most of its life. That means when you do find the rare example, like this choice Defender, it's always best to drum up a detailed, ground-up restoration. This 110's documented bodywork, which included new glass and an upgrade to galvanized, pushbutton doors, looks great behind a slick coat of Audi Nardo Grey 2-stage. To keep those panels straight, the truck's form has been supplemented with a custom, powder-coated exoskeleton. And that skeleton plays well with a Gloss Black KBX grille, Gloss Black KBX headlight buckets and Gloss Black tail lamp surrounds.

FOR EVERY PURPOSE, A TOOL

There's nothing worse than being stuck on the trail with no friends and no help for hours or miles. In an effort to avoid that fate, this Land Rover packs an impressive array of handy recovery tools. For starters, front tow hoops are shaded by an electric Warn winch that's upfitted with a synthetic cable. Out back, a frame mounted hitch doubles as a rear tow point, thanks to welded hoop, and a blind spot eliminator, thanks to a small receiver camera. Above that hitch, a LINE-X lined bed stows a full-size spare tire in front of 5-foot Firestik antennas that can easily be wired for both CB and AM/FM radio. The exoskeleton is optimized with a 60-inch jack, powder-coated sand ladders, a carbon Fiskars axe, a powder-coated CESS shovel and lockable RotopaX Jerry Cans that hold both diesel and potable water. ARB Intensity LED driving lamps join an integrated dust snorkel to provide requisite trail flair. And the truck's front fenders, hood and rocker steps are armored with unique, color-keyed diamond plating.

DIESEL WON'T DIE

Most serious trucks employ some form of diesel technology, and this 110 is no exception. As you might imagine, the pickup's power source has been upgraded in accordance with its appearance, with a rugged Isuzu J-series presently occupying the engine bay. Officially named 4JG2, that 3.0 liter mill is an intercooled turbo diesel 4-cylinder that's utilitarian and efficient. It's also a fairly common swap into Defenders, especially in Australia where Isuzu sold many models equipped with the engine. For the sake of reliability, modifications remain minor, with a K&N air filter and a Star Diesel fuel filter joining a Moroso breather, a polished expansion tank and a Flex-a-Lite Black Magic fan. And the dual-belt engine fits snug thanks to custom wheel well liners that have been powder-coated black.

NEVER MET A TRAIL IT COULDN'T CONQUER

Crawling under this Defender reveals a high-riding chassis that appears largely weather-free. Power flows through a reliable 5-speed to either a Crane-branded 14-bolt that's finished with full-floating hubs, or a Crane-branded Dana 44 that's finished with Warn locking hubs. That drivetrain hangs in a reinforced suspension, which stretches reinforced power steering around Fox Racing coil-overs. That clip leads a triangulated 4-bar rear-half that's complete with reservoired King shocks. Stops are provided by power-assisted discs. Exhaust flows through ceramic-coated pipes and a ceramic-coated, glasspack-style muffler. And at the corners of the floor, powder-coated Alcoa wheels twist eight lugs inside tactical 38x11x16 Michelin XZLs.

SURPRISINGLY OPULENT

When you step up to this level, trucks are all about combining the best elements of comfort and utility. That's why it's so refreshing to hop in the cab of this purposeful but nicely appointed Land Rover. The stars of the show are heavy-grain leather Defender seats that feature custom double-diamond stitched inserts. In front of those thrones, a leather-wrapped dash hangs restored factory telemetry next to a customized center gauge panel that props VDO accessory gauges above dual cigarette lighters that can charge electronic devices even when the truck is turned off. Beneath that dash, a Tuffy Security Console protects a Bluetooth-capable JVC CD/DVD player that, in addition to providing a display for the aforementioned backup camera, powers custom-mount Focal speakers. And this Defender's right-hand driver rules the road through a simple, “LAND ROVER” branded steering wheel.

Ultimate trail walker, or ultimate cruiser that's guaranteed to start a conversation? We'll let you decide, but either way there's no arguing the appeal of a diesel Land Rover. Well-built and ready to conquer the world, it's a cool and equally exclusive collectable. So, what are you waiting for? Step in and step up to the big leagues!

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HIGHLIGHTS

* The beneficiary of a detailed, ground-up restoration
* 3.0 liter Isuzu turbo diesel
* 5-speed manual transmission
* 14-bolt Land Rover rear axle / Dana 44 front axle
* Power steering
* 4-wheel power disc brakes
* Customized leather interior / Modern audio
* Custom exoskeleton with integrated recovery tools
* Upgraded and reinforced suspension
* 16-inch Alcoa wheels / Michelin XZL tactical tires
* Audi Nardo Grey paint
* Restoration receipts
* Component literature
* All RK Motors vehicles receive a comprehensive, multi-point inspection
* We can ship your new classic anywhere in the world