Land Rover restomod maker Kingsley has applied its “Driving the Definitive” ethos to the Defender.
Having previously worked wonders with the Range Rover Classic the company has crafted one of the most luxurious Landies we’ve ever seen. “A Kingsley car is a bond between the classic, the restoration team, and the customer. Therefore, the sky is the limit,” says the firm.
Kingsley, which says it has restored and rebuilt more than 500 Range Rovers and Land Rovers since 2001, starts with a 90 or 110-inch wheelbase Defender and gives it a modern day driving experience and a host of creature comforts “to provide Range Rover levels of sophistication and comfort to the Great British icon.”
On the mechanical side Kingsley will happily overhaul the donor car’s original powertrain, but it’s far more likely that owners will specify something more special, such as the 4.2-litre high-torque V8 fitted to the company’s first demonstrator. That engine is mated to a five-speed manual transmission, although an automatic gearbox with four or eight speeds are also offered. Other Range Rover original engines can be installed, with Chevrolet LS3 and LT1 motors also on the options list. Driveshafts and differentials get beefed up accordingly. Kingsley uprates the suspension with new springs and electronic active dampers and a big brake kit is available to improve stopping power.
Inside there are Recaro seats, an effectively-unlimited choice of interior trim, and new technology including climate control and an audio system with CarPlay. To make sure you can hear it Kingsley substantially increases the sound deadening.
Every Kingsley starts with a bare-metal strip-down and a 15-stage process to restore and protect the car’s skeleton before it’s painted in whatever color the customer wants. In the case of the company’s bikini-topped 90 demonstrator that’s a classic blue with a sandstone leather interior, complete with Spinneyback weave for the seat centers, and charming tartan cloth bench seats in wood-paneled rear deck.
“Reimagining the Defender is not just about preserving its legacy, but about enhancing it for the modern driver,” explains John Sawbridge, Managing Director of Kinglsey. “We take great pride in our meticulous approach to restoration and customisation, ensuring that each vehicle not only honours the past but also embraces the future with innovations and comfort. Our goal is to deliver a Defender that resonates with the same spirit of adventure and robustness, but with the sophistication and driving dynamics that today’s discerning customers expect.”
Prices start from around £140,000.
