Land Rover Owner September 2019

There’s no doubt that Defenders are still massively in demand, and the forthcoming replacement will only increase it. While prices of superseded models often drop, the general feeling is that those of the original Defender will stay steady. That’s why we have a huge Defender (and earlier coil-sprung utilities) buying guide in this issue, so you can get the one best-suited to what you need. We’ve some sad news about the Range Rover Classic project we’ve been running. A fire that started outside Twenty Ten’s premises spread to it and destroyed the workshop, with the almost-finished Range Rover in it (p21). It’s fair to say that everyone is devastated, but at least no one was injured. It shows how quickly things can go wrong, so enjoy your Land Rover while you can! EDITOR…

1st prize CHARLES SMITH WINS A SEALEY RECHARGEABLE 360° SLIM INSPECTION LAMP ‘Not every trip to the supermarket is as dramatic as Charles’s. His 2.2 TDCi 110 station wagon bounds along the Monaro in New South Wales, Australia.’ NEIL WATTERSON, EDITOR 2nd prize DAVID BAGULEY WINS WINS A SEALEY RECHARGEABLE PORTABLE 20W COB FLOODLIGHT & POWER BANK ‘Driving his TDCi Defender company car on Puheke Beach, North Island, New Zealand is part of estate agent David Baguley’s job. Lucky man.’ NEIL WATTERSON, EDITOR…

1st PRIZE Sealey Black Series 1/2in sq dr Calibrated Micrometer Torque Wrench (AK624B) LIST PRICE £87.54 2nd PRIZE Sealey 5W CREE XPG LED Rechargeable Head Torch (HT107R) LIST PRICE £53.94 For a chance to see one of your pics in print, send it to wolr@LRO.com. Include a description of the vehicle and where the photo was taken, along with the names of anyone in it. Please send the biggest image file sizes you have. This issue, it’s well done to first-placed Charles Smith, who wins a Sealey Rechargeable 360° Slim Inspection Lamp. Second prize, a Sealey Rechargeable Portable 20w COB Floodlight & Power Bank, goes to David Baguley.…

Occasionally, I visit some weird places to see all sorts of Land Rovers, but this is the first time I’ve stood this close to a transformer packing 150,000 volts. I’ve come to see a freshly converted, all-electric Defender, which explains the ‘interesting’ surroundings – and I’m in the Netherlands, which perhaps explains why I’ve been given permission to be here at all. The 2008 110 station wagon looks standard apart from a sprinkling of subtle modifications – bespoke steering guard, bumper-mounted Nolden fog lights and daytime running lights, Truck-lite headlights, sturdy stainless steel rock sliders and Zunsport grille. Underneath its skin, though, this very special Defender is anything but ‘standard’. Creative spark Brothers Philip (31) and Wessel (30) Ploegmakers created the company, Plower BV, last year with the sole purpose of making an all-electric Defender;…

Readers fearing the new Land Rover Defender has gone soft, take heart – you have an inside man: Andy Deeks is leading the new Defender’s durability and robustness programme, and has owned five examples of the previous model. He also competes in off-road trials with his trusty V8. For Deeks, Land Rover isn’t just a pay cheque, it’s clearly a passion. We’re in there first Today, LRO’s stablemate Car magazine is the first media outlet in the world to hitch a ride in a prototype Defender. We’ll be in the passenger seat as Deeks demonstrates its capabilities on some of Land Rover’s ‘developing world’ off-road route at its Gaydon test ground, plus a loop of test track that impersonates a battered old B-road. These surfaces, plus those at the Lommel test track in Belgium, are…

BILLET MIRROR ARMS £280 • optimillraceproducts.com These new Defender door mirror arms are packed with features. First off, they’re machined from the same aerospace-grade aluminium that all Optimill products are manufactured in, then anodised so they won’t blister and look scruffy like the OE Defender arms. They are also 20mm longer than standard ones, which makes them much more useful when towing trailers or caravans. But their real party piece is the ultra-bright puddle lamps in the underside of the arm, which wire into the 10AS ECU so they come on and go off when the vehicle is locked and unlocked, and when the doors are opened and closed. The mirror arms also come pre-wired for heated mirror elements. FORGED 300Tdi CRANKSHAFT £570 • mdengineering.co.uk A direct replacement for the cast original, this…