Desert wilderness, here we come. There's nothing like a classic Land Rover Defender for turning insurmountable obstacles into everyday banalities. Arksen, specialists in everything from upscale outdoor gear to expedition-quality motor yachts, have created Project Sahara, a fully restored and uprated Defender designed not only to take you to unlikely places, but to provide your home from home once you’re there.
Safe to say there’s a load of inferior Defender restorations on the market now that the value of these stone-cold classics has soared. Arksen are a class above all of this in their more regular offerings, such as the Arksen D110, on which Project Sahara is based. Quality here is on a par with Arksen’s seagoing products, and then some.
Five door Defender station wagon is the basis. Frame is hot dip galvanised, body has been bare metal stripped back and treated to more than a few coats of pangea green metallic paint. Arksen’s engineers have fully refurbished the 2.5-litre turbodiesel engine under that famous bonnet, while expedition-quality suspension is by Terrafirma.
Tasty black wheel rims are Wolf, fitted with Cooper S/T Maxx 235/85 R16 tyres. Arksen’s own sump guard is in orange because aesthetics are important too. Snorkel helps cope with unlikely desert floods and integrated winch is by Warn.
Project Sahara: Your rolling hotel room
Then, once you’re parked up in the middle of nowhere, or a fancy caravan park in France, Project Sahara is still ready to take care of you. Arksen’s Expedition Ready kit provides an Alu-Cab two-person roof top tent, high above any wondering wildlife. Alu-Cab also provide both an awning for evening cocktails and a shower to freshen up before vodka martinis. There’s an integrated water tank and fifty litre fridge freezer. Yes, that is where the vodka is going.
Inside, you’re not going to be travelling in the kind of utilitarian austerity that classic Defender drivers know and - to some extent - love. One of Arksen’s calling cards is that extreme travel can be comfortable travel. Luxury? Yes, please. Seating is in diamond-stitched chairs in tan leather, with matching trim to doors and a new centre console. Alcantara is used on headlining and dash top, steering wheel is from a classic Range Rover, and – given you may be going to hotter climes – you’ll be glad to know that air conditioning is fitted too. A bespoke sound system caters for those desert raves under the stars.
Project Sahara is, we’re happy to say, available and for sale from Arksen themselves, ready to grace your automobile collection, for your next trip across sandy wastes or just to tackle the crowded and perilous journey to the local supermarket of a Saturday morning. Pricing is strictly on application, but it’s safe to say these fully restored and equipped classic Defenders from Arksen’s range don’t come cheap. Set aside £100,000 or so, we’d advise, before giving them a call. We hear the Sahara itself is lovely this time of year, too.
Next up: 24 Essentials for overlanders.
