2014 Land Rover DEFENDER

First registered in September 2014, this 2015 model-year 2.2-litre TDCi Land Rover Defender 110 XS double-cab pick up is the same model as those that were converted by SVO for SPECTRE. The Ford-derived engine is one of the most refined of all the Defender power-plants - being already smoother, quieter and less emissive than its predecessors.

This obviously isn’t an original movie stunt vehicle (those change hands for close to a quarter of a million pounds - even the damaged ones!) but it is one that the current owner sent to Tweaked for a SPECTRE conversion back in the autumn of 2018.

It was supplied to its first customer by Land Rover’s Oxford dealership (when it was only 5 miles outside Oxford rather than 12 as it is now) and bought from them by the current owner in October 2017. He bought it for two reasons, one being the long-feared demise of the model and the second being that he’d recently started a building company and wanted a vehicle more suited to construction sites.

However, once he’d started adding a few upgrades - raise suspension, fat wheels and winch - he happened upon Tweaked and the SPECTRE look and decided to go the whole hog. He had already bought the roll cage but wisely opted to let them fit it.

Now the conversion is done, he feels that the Defender is too good to use for building work - although it has been on site a few times - and isn’t really an option for family use, so it doesn’t get much use.

The vendor also confesses to being more interested in acquiring vehicles, doing them up and keeping them for a while (he also runs a mechanical workshop and storage company) rather than using and showing them.

Factory finished in Santorini Black, the paint and bodywork on this Defender is pretty strong as modern Land Rovers go. Admittedly, a lot of the bodywork is hidden or protected by roll cages or checker plating, but most crew-cab pickups will have been used as working vehicles and subjected to all sorts of daily abuse. This one appears to have been treated well during its 6 years and 42,000 miles as well as receiving a movie makeover in 2018.

There’s a scuff in the plastic on the top of the front A bar, a small scratch on the offside rear and, like Land Rovers of old, some light surface rust on the tailgate latches and hinges and across the rear bumper, but nothing of any significance that couldn’t be addressed easily.

The Defender sits on aftermarket 16-inch beadlock-style black steel wheels which appear in good order and are fitted with 305mm wide, 70mm profile BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A (terrain attack tread pattern) tyres - believed to be from around 2017 and showing very good tread depth.

From the Warn winch at the front, across the caged body and racked roof, to the LED reversing lights at the rear, this Defender looks every bit the SPECTRE villain - see the History Highlights section for more detail on the extras and upgrades.

Inside this Defender is something more of a haven than the regular Landie, with increased soundproofing plus heated Corbeau vinyl-trimmed sports seats up front and an upgraded rear seat set all in fabulous condition and adding to the comfort levels.

Ahead of the driver, the dash and main instruments are standard Defender but the centre console is in piano black and features an upgraded double-height Pioneer infotainment unit connected to a roof-mounted reversing camera.

The rubber matting you’d typically see in a pickup has been replaced by black carpeting throughout which appears in good condition, and the headlining too seems clean and intact.

We are looking after this customised Land Rover during the sale and welcome any personal inspection, subject to Government travel restrictions. Why not use the ‘Contact Seller’ option to arrange a visit to our Oxfordshire HQ or we can set up a one-to-one video call to discuss the Defender and guide you around the vehicle.

Under the bonnet, the 2.2-litre TDCi engine sits well back in the compartment with all the ancillaries neatly packaged around and forward of it. All appears intact and in good order and the underside of the bonnet lid has been fitted with additional Dynamat Xtreme insulation which is often fitted to loudspeaker cabinets to reduce vibration and distortion.

Being a 4x4, and raised compared to the standard vehicle, it’s easy to check underneath without a ramp. At the front a Flat Dog steering guard has been fitted - which appears undamaged and only sports a few scratches and scrapes. Elsewhere is largely clean although there are patches of surface rust here and there across the chassis members, most of the drivetrain, suspension and steering components, as you would expect on such a vehicle - but nothing of any concern.

In the load bed at the back, there are small areas of scratching and denting in the floor above the wheels and across the tailgate, but there is still a large amount of painted surface on show, which suggests that this pick up hasn’t picked up much in its life so far. Atop each corner wall of the load bed are circular holes where the vehicle’s original canvas hood frame has been removed. Those of a more fastidious disposition would probably want to plug them with rubber grommets or effect a more permanent cover up.

The Defender has a current MOT valid until December 2021, which it passed with no advisories. It has a full set of first time passes since first requiring a test in 2017.

The history file - such as it is for a relatively new vehicle - contains MOT reports, invoices for parts bought and work commissioned by the vendor, and information on its warranty service history which is as follows:

Sep 2014 - 4 miles (PDI) - Ridgeway LR Oxford

Dec 2016 - 25,288 - Marshall JLR Oxford

Oct 2017 - 34,316 - Marshall JLR Oxford

Soon after buying the vehicle, the vendor had ARB “Old Man Emu” shocks and springs fitted to it giving a 2-inch lift (the maximum without having to modify the suspension geometry), along with extra-wide wheel arches to accommodate the beadlock look alike wheels and larger tyres, as well as a Warn Zeon 8 winch.

In October/November 2018, the Defender was sent to Tweaked Automotive in North West London, where they undertook the following conversions and installations totalling £12,273:

- Stage 3 performance upgrade: ECU remap, uprated intercooler, stainless sports exhaust by “Demand”, air box mod and upgraded air filter - giving 190-205bhp, increased torque, better fuel economy, smoother drive.

- Double height Pioneer head unit (Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, DVD, Nav) and reversing camera

- Cabin soundproofing

- Black carpets throughout cabin

- External roll cage by “Safety Devices”

- Explorer roof rack

- 4 x “SPECTRE” spot lamps (one currently not working due to water ingress)

- Mantec “Plastic Jobby” Snorkel

- Corbeau heated sport seats

- LED reversing lights and fog lights

- Aluminium billet fuel cap

- Move front number plate to roof rack

In addition, the vehicle has upgraded TruckLite LED headlamps.

The Defender comes with additional rubber floor mats, two keys and its original owner’s manuals in a Land Rover Approved pouch. The original wheel arches, lights, centre console fascia and head unit have also been retained with the vehicle.

This Defender runs, drives and handles well for its type and is very comfortable to ride in. Although the engine noise is reduced with the extra soundproofing, the knobbly all terrain tyres still ensure that the cabin isn’t too quiet. The additional power from the remapped and uprated engine makes the vehicle much happier at higher speeds and also overcomes the Defender “bounce” when changing up through the gears.

There is still a lot of love for the Defender, and the rise in prices since “proper ones” went out of production means they remain a very safe place to put your money. Add in the movie-star image and a laundry-list of upgrades, and our guide price for this strong-looking Defender of somewhere between £41,000 and £51,000 seems like cracking value.

With such an iconic look as this SPECTRE homage pickup, your villainous ride will be instantly recognised as something not to be messed with. Attracting equal attention at car shows and off-road events, this beast is both comfortable and capable, the epitome of “show and go”.

Viewing is always encouraged (within Govt. guidelines of course), and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.