At this point, you’re well aware how much we love the work of the Land Rover restoration experts at Himalaya (see the Himalaya “Spectre” Land Rover Defender 110) and the pieces that come out of classic San Francisco menswear shop Taylor Stitch (see the Taylor Stitch McQueen Denim Shirt). These two separate, iconic and equally beloved brands have teamed up to breathe new life into a 1970 Land Rover Series IIA that has affectionately been dubbed the “Pre-Defender.” This vehicle retains all the character and unique nature of the original while upgrading damn near everything else to create a stylish, modern ride. A mid-90s 300TDI diesel Defender engine was swapped in to replace the archaic 2.5-liter original, along with upgrades in the form of disc brakes, automatic transmission and power transmission to make it drive like a vehicle that just rolled off the lot. From there, the Taylor Stitch team came in to upgrade the interior with their waterproof, waxed suede material on the seats, console, gearbox and emergency brake. Pair all that work with a vintage Porsche-inspired Aga Blue paint job and wood-lined truck bed to create the vehicle we’ll all be clamoring to bring home.
Himalaya x Taylor Stitch 1970 “Pre-Defender”
