2011 Land Rover Defender

Presented in Nardo Grey with a contrasting black roof and a tan leather interior, this 2011 Land Rover Defender is one of the very best resto-mods we’ve ever seen, with an attention to detail that has to be seen to be fully appreciated.

The new tan leather interior, for example, gives the look of a six-figure bespoke vehicle, while the 2.2-litre turbocharged diesel engine is barely run in with just 50,000 miles under its belt.

In stark contrast to some you see, every single detail on this appears to have been carefully thought through and meticulously installed by its Land Rover enthusiast owner, a man who is carving a growing reputation for producing some of the nicest Defenders in the country.

As he himself so succinctly puts it: “the Defender wants for nothing." Quite.

Fresh from a respray in Nardo Grey with a gloss black roof, this Defender looks absolutely terrific, doesn’t it? Clearly applied by someone with above-average skill with a spray gun, the finish is very good indeed.

New door and lamp seals abound, which provides further proof that the bodywork that was undertaken here is the polar opposite of the quick blowover you often seen from unscrupulous vendors out to make a quick profit on the back of a rising tide.

Body-coloured headlamps surrounds, wheelarches, and radiator grille slim the front end down very effectively, a visual sleight of hand the smoked LED lamps, bumper-mounted auxiliary lights, and upgraded headlamps help.

And that bumper is far straighter than you are probably used to seeing; for anyone more used to seeing working Land Rovers, the fit and finish on this one will come as a welcome surprise.

A subdued pattern Union flag on the bonnet is flanked by black chequerplate on the front wings. There’s more black chequerplate on the sills plus a pair of small Union flags mounted on the front wings. It has all been meticulously considered and fastidiously applied.

Still unconvinced? Take a look at the wheels. New painted steel jobbies, they’re fitted with a new set of LT285/60R18 BF Goodrich T/A KO2 tyres – including the spare - which are still probably the best dual-purpose tyres available anywhere today.

With a tread depth that’s measured in inches rather than millimeters, they’re mud and snow rated so will be as effective in the rough as they will be at 70mph on the motorway.

With a height of almost 32” they give the Defender a wonderful stance too, and at almost a foot wide, they fill the wheelarches nicely.

Plus, as we will never get tired of telling you, experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

A pair of hefty sidesteps do double duty as rock sliders to protect your sills, while a sump guard shields the engine. An NAS rear step/bumper/towbar combination and a quartet of robust mudflaps and chequerplate on the rear crossmember complete the package.

It’s in great shape and if you prefer your Defender to show a little patina you can rest assured that any patina it acquires will be yours rather than one you inherited: This is a Land Rover you will build your own history with.

NB: As a hard-top van rather than the more usual station wagon, we can’t help but think the sides would look wonderful with handwritten signage; there are plenty of artists out there who could do it the old-fashioned way with a brush and paint and the finished product would look terrific as a promotional vehicle for your business or race team.

If the exterior is upmarket yet still reassuringly utilitarian, the interior is sumptuous and cosseting. It’s easy on the eye too, because the same thought and care has been applied in here as everywhere else.

The tan leather trim peeks coquettishly through the (new) windscreen, flashing passers-by with a glimpse of the luxury that lurks within. The tan contrasts wonderfully with the subdued grey exterior and is yet further proof of the seller’s exquisite taste.

Opening the doors reveals the full splendour of the transformation he’s wrought. New leather seats set the tone, and they’re a wonderfully decadent twist on the usual Defender design. Separated by a matching centre cubbyhole-cum-armrest, they’re as gorgeous to look at as they are comfortable to sit in.

The tan leather theme extends to the dashboard, steering column, and door cards. The work is so comprehensive even the rear seats and door are trimmed in the same way. A matching headlining (literally) tops it all off.

Beautiful gearknobs cap the floor-mounted transmission levers and a wood-rimmed steering wheel further improves the driver/vehicle interface.

New carpets, with Dynamat Extreme sound-deadening pads beneath them and genuine Land Rover rubber mats above, cloak the floor. It’s almost impossible to find any trace of the utilitarian working vehicle that lurks below, which is high praise indeed.

A high-quality, stereo sits in the dashboard and plays through upgraded speakers and a huge Alpine sub-woofer. An Eightwood antennae allows for DAB radio and Bluetooth allows you to stream music and your phone calls with equal ease. It’s double-din design also allows for the provision of sat-nav, which is a nice touch.

Other luxuries include electric windows, air-conditioning, and disco lights. Yes, you read that right; your kids can enjoy a disco while you cruise around the neighbourhood.

Oh, and in case they get bored (unlikely, we know…) marine-grade electrical sockets provide outlets for them to charge their phones and tablets.

There is a small flaw in the leather covering the steering column but that’s about all we can see that might bother you.

A sump guard protects the engine, an engine that sits within a nicely presented bay. The factory fitted Ford 2.2-litre engine might have appalled the purists at the time but it is a fine choice for the Defender, being refined and powerful while still meeting the appropriate emissions standards (this model was the first Defender to be fitted with a diesel particulate filter, for example).

The seller was keen to broaden the Defender’s appeal to those for whom the somewhat agricultural gearchange might have been something of a shock. To this end he fitted a clutch with softer springs along with a quick shift, shortened gear lever. The result is far nicer to drive than the original, especially in city traffic.

As you can see, it fires up readily, idles perfectly, and revs as it should.

The underside is similarly good and if you peer closely you can see the brakes, which were also stripped down and refurbished and painted before being reassembled.

As we keep saying, it’s the details that mark this one out from the rest.

With just two former keepers recorded on the V5, the Defender was bought by the seller in around 2019. It sat waiting to be restored and updated for a while, which explains to pause in its service history:

• 26.10.2012 and 6,091 miles – service by SHB Group Ltd

• 30.09.2013 and 9,108 miles – service by SHB Group Ltd

• 26.09.2014 and 14,258 miles – service by SHB Group Ltd

• 22.03.2016 and 16,447 miles – service by Leversedge Autos Ltd., an independent Land Rover specialist

• 24.11.2016 and 22,025 miles – service by JSF 4x4, an independent Land Rover specialist

• 11.09.2017 and 30,182 miles – service by JSF 4x4, an independent Land Rover specialist

• 24.08.2017* and 39,839 miles – service by JSF 4x4, an independent Land Rover specialist

• 10.09.2019 and 48,950 miles – service by 3D Auto Services

* actually, almost certainly 2018 according to the online MoT history mileage records.

The comprehensive book pack includes the stamped service history booklet and the vehicle comes with two sets of keys.

The Defender’s MoT certificate, which is valid until February 2024, was gained without a single advisory point being raised.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear bar a marker to record the change in colour from silver to Nardo Grey.

With an estimate of between £28,000 and £33,000, the vendor has created a genuinely exceptional upgrade of the ubiquitous Defender by blending a modern colourway with judiciously chosen parts from specialist suppliers.

This is the third one he’s done, and there’s a fourth in the pipeline, which means we can look forward to a steady stream of carefully resto-modded Defenders from him and his talented workforce.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, 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, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.