While the original Defender was as sturdy as it could be, not without its lack of problems, of course, for its time, it wouldn’t last a day for everyday driving uses in more modern times. With that being said, if you’re on the fence about whether or not you should have your classic Defender upgraded, here are a few reasons why it should definitely be considered.

Defender Performance

Compared to its older self, an upgraded Defender will be able to handle daily drives, adventures, and excursions. The original vehicle as-is went anywhere but often as a cost. Frequent tune-ups and breakdowns were expected and have even become a joke today. We often get asked if our builds “still leak” because of the old Defender stigma. ECD can upgrade any performance aspect of your vehicle, including the engine, brakes, axles, and suspension, to give you a smoother ride and, yes, no leaks. The best part of upgrading is getting the full life of your Defender back. It may be a 25-year-old vehicle, but it doesn’t have to perform like one. Plus, you could get another 25 years out of it, even with all the adventuring. 

Customization of Your Land Rover

We’re going to go ahead and toot our own horns for a bit. ECD has been known for upgrading Defenders for a few years, but our drive to keep each build as custom as possible makes our upgrades so different. So it’s fair to say upgrading your Defender could mean adding in some custom features that you always wanted, even if it’s something minimal like a new paint color or newer and cooler seats (Bucket race seats in a Defender? Yes, please!).

Lifestyle

Your build, your choice. Some of our vehicles cause a lot of fuss on social media because of a feature they have that traditional Heritage Style Defender lovers loathe (automatic trans, alligator seats, smaller wheels, etc.), but a lot of our clients make these choices for their vehicles because of how they expect to actually use it. Someone may need their build to fit in a tight parking garage, so smaller wheels work best. Here in America, most vehicles are automatic, so driving a Defender with auto is just an easier transition. Not everyone buys a Defender to rip it through the dirt; some just want it to be their regular daily driver. The best part of this vehicle and the reason we all love it to begin with is its versatility. Originally, the Defender was sold to the US with the idea of it being a “family” SUV, so in reality, our clients are keeping that same energy. Whatever your lifestyle calls for, whether it be beach riding or driving through the city, upgrading your Defender can help it fit into your lifestyle needs.

Keeping a Classic on the Road

At the end of the day, upgrading your Defender or having one custom-built by us means that there’s another original Defender back on the road; isn’t that what’s important? The vehicles that were out of commission, never to be seen again, have another shot at life, and I think we can all agree that’s the biggest added value of upgrading your build.