Unlock the full potential of your Classic Land Rover with modern upgrades that seamlessly blend style and performance. Discover a range of enhancements, from advanced suspension systems to state-of-the-art technology integration, designed to improve your driving experience without compromising the timeless charm of your classic vehicle. Here’s a look at five modern upgrades to take your Vintage Defender from cookie-cutter to one-of-a-kind.

1. Electric Drivetrains

While petrolheads may not be too keen on the concept, a custom Land Rover restoration build makes it possible to have your Land Rover restoration project exclusively powered by an electric drivetrain. The electric Defenders and Range Rovers built at ECD feature Tesla batteries and controllers. A custom Defender with an electric drivetrain holds 100 KWH of power with a 5-hour three-phase charge-time which provides an estimated driving range of 220 miles on a full charge.

Finished in a stunning full gloss Khaki Gray, Project Britton is a fully restored D110 powered by an all-electric drivetrain. Another ECD build that features an electric Tesla motor is Project Ski, a custom Range Rover Classic finished in Alpine White with black accents all around. Choosing to power your vintage Land Rover with an all-electric Tesla Motor is definitely a modern upgrade that will elevate your build project to a class all its own.

2. Heated/Ventilated Seats 

Another modern upgrade that many of our clients lean toward incorporating into their build projects is heated/ventilated seats for extra comfort and support. Project Barge is a custom Land Rover Defender 130 that features a heated/ventilated seat setup. Finished in full gloss White Diamond Pearl on the outside, the interior of Project Barge is finished in Hydes Nappa Leather in Thema. The two front captain chairs are outfitted with Exmoor Modular heated/ventilated seats with electric lumbar support. In addition, the leather throughout the vehicle is perforated for ventilation.

Project Hard Drive is another ECD build that sports the heated/ventilated seat option. A custom D110, Project Hard Drive is finished in a gorgeous full gloss Cavalry blue with a white rooftop on the exterior. On the interior, this D110 features a luxury black carpet, Coja Rawhide, and Supersoft black leather. The seat setup in this D110 features two captain chairs, a Puma middle row, and two forward-facing jump seats in the cargo area. Project Hard Drive can comfortably seat a total of seven. All in all, the two captain chairs are made extra comfortable with heated and cooled Puma modular front seats wrapped in gorgeous leather, which serves as a perfect modern upgrade for this build project.

3. Brembo Performance Brakes 

Along with electric drivetrains and heated/ventilation seating systems, another modern upgrade that has proved popular among ECD clients is the Brembo braking system. The Brembo company is a world leader in automotive disc brake technology. In order to begin incorporating the Brembo Performance brakes into ECD builds, we teamed up with Race Technologies, an official supplier of Brembo braking systems. Through this partnership, we have been able to install a Defender-specific braking kit into our custom Defender build projects.

The very first Brembo GT Performance brakes at ECD were installed in Project Yellow Stone. Along with its custom brakes, this Custom D110 crew cab is powered by a 6.2L LS3 v8 engine with 565 horsepower and a 6-speed automatic transmission. Along with its impressive power and performance, Project Yellow Stone is an eye-catcher, finished in Causeway Gray Pearl. In addition, it features a tubular A-bar front winch bumper and automatic headlights.

4. Wireless Charging 

Wireless charging is another must-have modern upgrade in every Land Rover restoration project. With cell phones, tablets, laptops, and other tech gadgets becoming daily staples in the modern world, it’s important to have easy access to charging stations for these devices. That’s why every ECD build project can be outfitted USB charging ports and wireless charging stations to ensure you’re always connected when you need to be.

One ECD build that features wireless charging is Project Oso Flaco, a custom D110. Painted in full gloss Bonatti Gray with black accents all around, this D110 is an attractive Defender that demands attention. Along with its wireless charging feature, Project Oso Flaco is stacked to the nines with additional modern tech features like a JL audio sound system, Bluetooth audio, and USB ports throughout.

5. Interior Lighting 

While additional interior lighting can certainly brighten the inside of any Defender restoration project, this modern upgrade can also transform a vintage Defender into a one-of-a-kind vehicle. Take Project Phantom, for example. Project Phantom is one of the most exclusive interior designs ever tackled by the ECD team.

This Custom D110 sports a full gloss finish in Gun Metal Grey with black accents all around. While the exterior is seemingly quite traditional, things get turned up to a new level with Project Phantom’s interior. When you step inside Project Phantom, you are met with a flash of bright orange as the 2+2 seats, which are all heated and ventilated, are wrapped in Honeycomb Lamborghini Orange Leather.

The client on this project wanted to replicate their existing Rolls Royce and went for a very high-end feel. Of course, the most unique element of Project Phantom is its interior lighting, which features the Starlight headliner. This headliner can change hues with a touch of a button and lets you feel like you’re sitting outside beneath the stars. Adding any variety of interior lighting is a simple yet effective modern upgrade that adds a “WOW” factor to any restoration project.

What Modern Upgrades Will You Add to Your Classic Land Rover Restoration Project? 

At ECD, we specialize in blending modern tech and conveniences with the iconic Land Rovers of the past. From D90s to RRCs, our team can bring your Land Rover dreams into a reality. If you’re ready to add a classic Land Rover to your garage, contact us today to learn more about the design and build process. In addition, you can check out our showcase or our 3D Build Simulator for more inspiration for your future Land Rover build project.