Of course, you can buy a brand new Land Rover Defender these days. Ready for everything from commuting to a weekend picnic deep in the countryside. Fields treated with disdain. But where’s the fun in all of that air conditioned comfort? Enter Phoenix Restorations who, from their base in Turkey, take the average dowdy old-school Defender and transform it, as they put it, by "preserving its classic heritage while enhancing reliability and drivability”. Translation: this is a classic Defender that can rival a spanking new one for comfort, while boasting of a real honest authenticity. Yes please.
“I will never forget my first 1991 Land Rover Defender 110,” says Phoenix founder Philippe De Andria, “the thrill of driving it, combined with my deep-rooted love for adventure and an appreciation for classic aesthetics lost in modern vehicles, drove me to start restoring these remarkable machines.” In short these are Defenders remade by enthusiasts, for enthusiasts.
So what are we talking about here? Two key offerings benefit from the Phoenix rebuild process. True heritage classics are Series Three Land Rovers, built between 1971 and 1985, before the Defender name was even used. It’s a look that says original classic Landie and these are restored to better than new, but without much in the way of modern accoutrements. What you’ll get is an impeccably rebuilt original Defender for occasional use, and to put a smile on the faces of Land Rover purists. Who are a demanding bunch.
Phoenix Restorations: Landies through the ages
Far more everyday usable are Phoenix’s much later vehicles, like the 1991 110 - the number refers to the wheelbase, in inches - Defender that company founder De Andria first experienced himself. That they’re much more contemporary means that adding smart interiors, teak wood decks and sound systems capable of scaring passing wildlife doesn’t interfere with anything in the way of heritage as it might with a Series Three. Those purists won’t be upset. Probably.
Want some ideas to specify your own 110 Defender? Here’s some of what you can ask Phoenix to do. Naturally a colourway of your choosing. Metallic? We’re not going to tell the purists. Chunky off-road BF Goodrich tyres, perhaps. Spotlights, side and rear steps? Nice. Interior options add more of appointments original Landie’s designers wouldn’t recognise such as hand-stitched leather trim and aluminium door fittings. Or front and rear cameras. We like the look of the Goliath Wolf black steel wheels. Bespoke is the name of the game.
You may be wondering how much all of this perfectionism will cost. How you’ll put any of this go-anywhere rebuilt chic into your driveway. Of course, as Phoenix Restorations themselves say, it depends on your specification and the shipping from Turkey to Britain. Price of a British racing green four seater 110 Land Rover pick-up, fully specified? That’ll be £88,000, which for a vehicle likely to survive the apocalypse is something of a bargain. Can we have a lift to the nuclear fallout shelter, please?
Next up: Classic Land Rovers by Project88.
