|

blackbridge motors’ custom defender brings vintage land rover dials & knobs to its dashboard

Blackbridge Motors’ custom land rover Defender 110 Mark II

Restorer Blackbridge Motors unveils its new custom Defender 110 Mark II, reviving Land Rover’s early style dashboard engineered specifically for the remodel, including the vintage-inspired dials, knobs, and touch points. The vehicle’s interior is outfitted with custom seats, door cards, and a dashboard top, upholstered in Garrett Leather Caressa with a Doeskin finish. Inside the custom vehicle, the owners can find and enjoy the high-fidelity, reference-grade sound system that Blackbridge Motors custom-designed for audiophiles and new quality-sound fans alike.

blackbridge motors custom land rover defender 110
images courtesy of Blackbridge Motors

Speakers, even hidden, in the cabin for immersive audio

Inside the custom Land Rover Defender 110 Mark II, Blackbridge Motors places a Sony RSX-GS9 head unit for the Hi-Fi sound. They also add Moral Reference speakers housed in custom, period-correct soundstage enclosures throughout the cabin and conceal a Diamond Audio subwoofer within the interior for deep, resonant bass and immersive audio. Glancing at the seats, two consecutive rows of captain’s chairs in plaid, each separated by a center console carpeted in leather, can accommodate the driver and passengers. On the other hand, the additional inward-facing jump seats amp up the cargo space compared to the original 110 Mark II.

blackbridge motors custom land rover defender 110
front view of the custom Land Rover Defender 110 Mark II

galvanized bulkhead tops custom Land Rover Defender 110

Walking around Blackbridge Motors’ custom vehicle, a galvanized bulkhead tops the custom Land Rover Defender 110 Mark II to avoid corrosion. The restorer also places a Puma-style hood alongside Puma-style 1st and 2nd row doors, which include automatic window regulators and locks. An OEM glass windscreen and seven-inch round vision LED headlights are integrated into the grille, and Blackbridge Motors also includes electronic fold-down side steps and a NAS-style rear step for the driver and passengers, so they can get in and out of the vehicle easily.

blackbridge motors custom land rover defender 110
a galvanized bulkhead tops the custom Land Rover Defender 110 Mark II to avoid corrosion

For specs buffs, Blackbridge Motors installs a General Motors (GM) Performance 6.2L V8 LT4 650-hp engine on the custom Land Rover Defender 110 Mark II, outfitted in aerospace-grade wiring. Still equipping the new custom vehicle with GM parts, the restorer company also opts for a GM Performance 8-speed automatic transmission mated to a Land Rover LT230 Heavy Duty Transfer Case. The GM engine system can then allow the owner of the custom Land Rover Defender 110 Mark II to service their vehicle at any GM facility or dealer nearby.

blackbridge motors custom land rover defender 110
Blackbridge Motors installs a Puma-style hood and row doors, including automatic window regulators and locks

As of publishing the story, the price of the custom Land Rover Defender 110 starts at 269,500 USD. Commenting on the unveiling, Scott Gilbert, Blackbridge Motors Founder & CEO, says, ‘Blackbridge Motors started with the simple question of how we could transform vintage Defender ownership from something filled with compromises into a contemporary, fun driving experience that still maintains all its original charms in terms of iconic design. Our goal is for our clients to completely forget that they are driving a vintage truck and simply enjoy everything about their classic Defender with none of the more annoying, even aggravating aspects of vintage vehicle ownership.’

blackbridge motors custom land rover defender 110
inside the custom Land Rover Defender 110

blackbridge motors custom land rover defender 110
steering wheel view

Similar Posts

  • Miner Road

    The clients are a couple of environmental scientists who, along with their two sons, relocated from the Oakland Hills to the warmer climate of Orinda. Their commitment to sustainability, including a request for net-zero energy performance annually, was evident in their thinking throughout the design process. A three-bedroom program began as a remodel of a 1954 ranch house at the foot of a hill next to a seasonal creek.  After finding the existing structure and soils to be unsuitable, the direction settled on reusing the existing footprint under the shade of a Valley Oak that had grown up close to the original house. The surviving portion of the original house is the fireplace which was wrapped in concrete and utilized for structural support. This made additional grading unnecessary and allowed the new house to maintain the same intimate relation to the old oak.  The family desired an open living layout that connected directly to the landscape. A mezzanine plan evolved with a double height family space nested with a master bedroom and study stacked above the kitchen and nook. A screened pacing deck for long phone calls shades the upper level from afternoon summer sun. Downstairs, secondary bedrooms along an extendable hallway, wrap an outdoor dining area situated between the kitchen and family room.  Construction materials and methods were considered in balance between first and lifecycle costs. The Corten steel rain screen for the exterior skin and interior wood were chosen to take advantage of zero annual maintenance cost and a shotcrete foundation allowed formwork to be repurposed for wood framing.  Single use material selections such as the Corten steel and shotcrete foundation reduced complexity in detailing and labor costs allowing a larger portion of the budget to be reallocated for upgraded mechanical, insulation, and glazing systems. The same attitude for interior finishes produced acoustically insulated, unfinished oak ceilings and walls. The sum total of the limited and landscape-driven materials presents a relaxed and quiet built environment that allows the senses to focus on the natural environment. A haptic connection to the rhythms of our planet is evident.  A 14-gauge Corten rain screen provides a no-maintenance skin. High levels of insulation and glazing efficiency reduce heating and cooling loads. An 8.1kW photovoltaic system provides on-site renewable energy and produced more electrical energy than the house used the first year. Rainwater is collected via a waterfall from the roof at the end of the hallway. Buried tanks store water for use in toilets and laundry. Greywater is collected separately and reused for irrigation. Electronically commutated motors and variable speed heat pumps are used to further limit energy use and control heating and cooling. An energy recovery ventilator is used to provide fresh air.

  • Napa Pool House

    A Napa poolside retreat, offering ample seating, a home bar and outdoor kitchen. Entertaining friends or relaxing with family is a breeze in this Wine Country Shangri-La.