Clover came to us with most of her body panels pocked by hail after weathering a severe storm. At minimum she would need new body panels and a respray.
Mechanically the truck was in great shape and her owners just needed to decide if this was going to be a straight cosmetic repair or if it would evolve into an opportunity for something more.
A straight forward disassembly started immediately while we went back and forth about the vision for this project. The clients presented a few reference photos they sourced online and were very open to ideas and feedback from the team here.
One of the earliest decisions was to install panoramic glass in the roof. While this mod is pretty straightforward, it was still an uncomfortable feeling for the crew here to be cutting a massive hole in a perfectly good Defender roof. The glass is massive and lets so much light into the cabin, while essentially leaving the vehicle still looking stock.
For the interior, the clients opted for Cool N Vintage seating, which is a very clean and understated leather in black with heat. The seats would be surrounded by all new carpeting throughout over top of sound deadening. Like the panoramic glass in the roof, all these updates are subtle but premium, culminating in an understated elevated finish.
For the exterior, we landed on Bonatti Grey, a classic and original Land Rover paint colour. To contrast the grey we opted for black wheel arches, roof, and accents.
Another upgrade was a lightweight aluminum bumper from AlliSport, painted black to match the grille surround and light bezels.
Probably the most prominent upgrade was the panoramic glass on the side and rear panels of the truck. It certainly changes the look and feel of the truck, skewing a bit more modern and urban than the Defender's agrarian roots.
Mods on the outside mean modifications to the interior trim as well. It takes time, patience, expertise, finesse, and then some more patience to get it right.
Custom headliner for the panoramic glass handwrapped, awaiting installation.
16" Sawtooth rims in black, a NAS rear step, and side steps completed the look of the truck.
Glass glass, and more glass.
Cool N Vintage heated seating with matching cubby box, surrounded by new carpeting, door cards, and trim.
The profile and reflections of this glass turn heads anywhere this truck goes. The owners were ecstatic with the outcome of the project and gushed that they felt like rock stars on their first drive.
And it all started with one little hail storm.
If you've got a Defender that you'd like to see with a new lease on life, reach out to the shop, we'd love to hear from you.