A brand new Land Rover Defender will debut this year
but that does not seem to affect the market for custom classic Defenders
considering the prices these things are advertised for. Sure, the transactions are likely
made for sums that are well below the advertised prices but even so,
paying/charging US$ 170,000 for a custom Defender seems rather excessive, doesn’t
it?
Well, it always depends on the quality of the build
and the features fitted to the vehicle. Take, for instance, this 1989 Land
Rover Defender 90 built by specialist company Arkonik. Someone actually paid US$ 170,000 to
have it built exactly like this and the project’s name says a lot about its
purpose. “So-Cal” will be used mainly to hit the beaches of Southern California
and is well configured to do so.
It features a Tan soft-top that reveals the Camden
Woven interior trim when it’s removed. The heated Puma style seats upfront and
tip-seats in the rear have been trimmed in Camden Supersoft leather by Ruskin
Design, and include woven detailing throughout. The cabin also features a cool
Evander wood-rimmed steering wheel and a Pioneer sound system obligatory for
beach parties. Since this vehicle is not intended to be a period-correct build,
the stereo features a touchscreen display compatible with Apple CarPlay and a
reversing camera.
In the unpleasant event that a stranger likes the
So-Cal too much, there is also a GPS-based “Defender Defender” security system
onboard that provides “pinpoint tracking accuracy and automated alert
notifications straight to your phone.”
On the outside, the So-Cal Defender features a clean
classic look with silver details such as the Heritage grille, bumper and frame
offsetting the gleaming Java Black paintwork. The off-roader rides on 16-inch
steelies painted Chawton White shod with BFGoodrich All Terrain T/A KO2 tires.
Other features worth noting include the Arkonik Cellular Dynamic shock
absorbers, WIPAC xenon headlights, LED DRLs, individual folding side steps, and
much more.
The 4×4 is powered by the stock 180 hp 3.5-liter V8 gasoline engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission — both
fully reconditioned and rebuilt. Besides the frame and powertrain, pretty much
all the other components of the donor vehicle are new.
