When you visit the garage at ECD headquarters in Kissimmee, Florida, you never know what you might find. However, whatever you come across, you can always count on it to be bold and luxurious, whether a vintage Land Rover Series III, a Range Rover Classic, or even a Land Rover 1980s Defender project. Every project taken on by the experienced team at ECD is built to every client’s exact specifications. Here’s a look at what the team has been able to do with some Land Rover 1980s Defender builds over the past several years.

Here’s Why the Land Rover 1980s Defender Is So Unique

The Land Rover brand known around the world today, originally formed in Solihull, England, in 1878, simply as the Rover Company. Over the last nearly 150 years, the Rover Company has gone through new names, changed hands, and undoubtedly evolved significantly from its early roots. However, one thing that remains the same is the iconic legacy that surrounds Land Rover.

After being in business for over a century, Land Rover released a new SUV to its lineup in the early 1980s, the Defender. However, what’s truly unique about these Defenders is that they were yet to don the Defender nameplate. The first model released from this new lineup was the Land Rover One Ten in 1983. “One Ten” refers to the SUV’s 110 in. wheelbase. After experiencing considerable success with the Land Rover One Ten launch, the company released a smaller two-door version with a 90 in. wheelbase known as the Land Rover Ninety in 1984. This release was quickly followed by a pickup truck version of the Land Rover One Ten, known as the Land Rover 127, which featured a truck bed in 1985. Interestingly, the 127 was the only model in this original lineup that was marketed numerically.

Essentially, what makes these 1980s Defenders so unique in the Defender lineup is that they were Defenders before Defenders were even a thing. They were the original before there was an original type of thing. It wasn’t until the 1990s that the Defender lineup actually began sporting the Defender nameplate. This change came to the lineup in 1989 when Land Rover decided to launch a new Discovery lineup. They thought it would get too difficult to differentiate between the two models without a clear rebrand. Thus, the Land Rover One Ten became known as the Defender 110, the Land Rover Ninety became the Defender 90, and the Land Rover 127 changed to the Defender 130 at the very beginning of 1990. While the 1990s Defenders are great, if you want an original Defender, it must be from the Land Rover 1980s Defender lineup.

Take a Look at These Restored 1980s Defenders

The skilled team at ECD has already tackled countless Land Rover 1980s Defender restoration projects, all of which can be viewed on the ECD portfolio page. In addition, here’s a look at two of our most recent vintage 1980s Defender builds, Project Mayhem and Project Wendy Lee.

Project Mayhem

A 1984 Defender 110, Project Mayhem is a breathtaking Land Rover 1980s Defender model. This D110 has a commanding presence, finished in full gloss Santorini Black with black accents all around. This vintage SUV sits on 20-inch Khan Mondial Retro Wheels painted in black with BFG all-terrain tires. The exterior of Project Mayhem is tied together with its six-point external roll cage, tubular a-bar front bumper with one winch, custom-edged engraved steering guard, four LED round spotlights up front, and two LED lights at the rear. Under the hood, Project Mayhem sports an LT4 650 hp engine with an 8-speed automatic transmission which certainly brings plenty of power and performance to this vintage Land Rover 1980s Defender.

The black color scheme featured on Project Mayhem’s exterior is carried on throughout the interior. Each seat in this D110 is finished in a vertical Diamond Katiana leather stitched together in Garrett Steel thread. Project Mayhem seats a total of eight passengers, with two Corbo RRS front and mid-row seats and four inward-facing jump seats in the load area. Upfront, you’ll find a MOMO NERO steering wheel with all-American gauges along with an array of modern tech features like a Kenwood Excelon touchscreen head unit, Apple CarPlay, and USB ports. Addition tech includes rear AC, an Infinity Kappa audio system, and additional USB ports located throughout the SUV.

Project Wendy Lee

A 1989 Defender 110, Project Wendy Lee is a stunning vintage Land Rover 1980s Defender finished in full gloss Mohave Sand with silver accents all around. This D110 sits on 16-inch Wolf Steel Wheels in white with BFG all-terrain tires. The exterior of this restoration build also features a classic front bumper, an ECD black steering guard, and two LED spotlights at the rear. This D110 is powered by a GM LT1 450 hp engine with an 8-speed automatic transmission.

When you step inside the interior of this D110, you are met with a gorgeous black and brown color scheme. The seats in this vintage 1980s Defender include four Puma Classic seats, each finished in a horizontal Garrett Torino Caviar Leather stitched together in a matching brown thread. There are two seats up front, two in the middle row, and none in the load area to allow for maximum storage capacity. Upfront, Project Wendy Lee features an Evander Wood steering wheel with all-American gauges. Regarding tech, this restored Land Rover 1980s Defender features a Gel Audio sound system, Apple CarPlay, rear AC, and access to USB ports throughout.

Get a Custom Land Rover 1980s Defender Today

If you’re looking to start your own Defender restoration build, look no further than ECD. ECD can bring your Land Rover dreams to life whether you’re looking for a Land Rover 1980s Defender, a Series IIA, a Series III, or even a Range Rover Classic. To better understand all the offers available on a custom ECD restoration build, check out our 3D Build Simulator to discover more about our unique, customizable configurations. However, if you’re ready to start your build project, contact us today to get the full scoop on the design and build process at ECD Automotive!