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.

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.

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.

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 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.’

inside the custom Land Rover Defender 110