The old-school Land Rover Defender became a stateside classic almost immediately after the British automaker introduced the final American-imported model in 1997. Finding one now is tough, but fortunately, Wilmington, North Carolina’s Osprey Custom Cars has used its Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (MCO) to build authorized replica models of two 1995-spec Land Rover 90s.
One is finished in Santorini Black, the other in Nautical Blue, but aside from the paint jobs and a few minor differences in components, the rugged retro rides are identical. General Motors’ LS 5.3-liter V8 feeds 325 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque through a six speed automatic transmission.
Each also received galvanized chassis that powder-coated black, a custom exhaust system, and a set of 16-inch “Sawtooth” alloy wheels wrapped in Kumho Road venture tires—one of which is mounted to the rear gate.
The exterior features upgraded front grille and light surrounds, stainless hardware, LED fixtures, an aluminum skid plate, a rear-step bumper and a color-matched canvas soft top.
Inside, the black Defender gets all-black leather seats, ambient LED lighting and power front windows, while the blue Defender’s interior is clad in gray-and-black leather. Both have a cubby-box center console and VDO instrument cluster, and a unique layout with the two rows of two seats facing one another.
Both of Osprey’s Land Rover Defenders are priced at $119,000, which isn’t bad when considering how unlikely it is to find a brand new vehicle made in the UK. Go here to learn more.
