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If you’re passionate about faithful, numbers-matching, period-correct Land Rover Defenders, avert your eyes — this is about to get serious. East Coast Defender just finished up a commissioned Defender 130 pickup whose only subtle aspect is the neutral olive-green paint job.
Defender purists will no doubt scoff at this 130’s very existence, but on can’t deny that it’s one hell of a build. Under the hood, a 6.2-liter, 430 horsepower Chevrolet LS3 V-8 engine from a Corvette is bolted to a six-speed automatic transmission with vented and drilled Wilwood brakes, all of which is reined in with race calipers. Face it, that’s way more powerful and reliable than the setup on the original Defender 130.
Inside, East Coast Defender wrapped Corbeau bucket seats in chocolate-brown alligator skin accented with matching leather throughout the rest of the cabin. But don’t worry, they kept the classic instrument gauges. This seemingly Florida Swamp–themed Defender sits high on 18-inch BFGoodrich all-terrain tires and a two-inch lift kit.
Stranded in the Everglades? This is the Defender you want.
