THE classic Land Rover Defender was already assured of cult status even before production of the iconic 4x4 drew to a close in 2016, writes William Scholes.
Values have steadily risen since then, and a whole industry exists to modify and update the off-roader to somewhere approaching modern standards.
One of the leading Defender specialists is Yorkshire-based outfit Twisted. Recognising the demand for the car, Twisted's boss, Charles Fawcett, ordered 200 examples of the British 4x4 in 2015.
Since then, it has offered these Defenders to customers... apart from 16 models, which until now have been tucked away in a barn and carefully stored.
Twisted reckons now is the right time to put these exclusive 'as new' Defenders, which are all in long-wheelbase 110 specification, on sale.
How exclusive? Well, Twisted calls these Defenders 'One of One', with just one utility wagon and one station wagon available in each of eight colours.
"I went to the Defender production line at Solihull to meet the men and women building the vehicles," explains Mr Fawcett.
"These 16 Defender 110s were hand-picked for their chassis numbers and build dates. They were all registered in 2016 - after production ceased - identifying them among the last off the line and, arguably, more collectable.
"They're special, and when 'Twisted', each one is the only one. Hence the limited run is called One of One."
Mr Fawcett added: "All of the 16 will be Twisted, but exactly how depends on the lifestyle and tastes of the customer.
"The Twisted way isn't to tell people what their Defender should be; it's to work with them to create a Defender that's the best fit for them."
That includes the owner deciding whether they want a petrol or diesel engine.
These are upgrades on what the factory would have offered. Twisted's petrol Defender One of One uses a 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbocharged unit with 308bhp and 350lb ft of torque, with a six-speed manual gearbox. The engine uses a fancy twin-scroll turbocharger and has a crankshaft and conrods made from forged steel.
The diesel - a 2.2-litre four-cylinder unit - has more modest outputs of 174bhp and 310 lb ft and benefits from an ECU upgrade, a performance air filter and a stainless steel exhaust. It also has a six-speed manual gearbox.
The Defenders are in XS trim, which was the highest grade offered at the time, but Twisted is giving the One of One a bunch of upgrades, which owners will be able to tailor further.
A Defender isn't exactly the sharpest driving tool, so Twisted's programme of mechanical improvements includes revamped suspension, with new springs, dampers and anti-roll bars. Here's also brakes that should help it stop promptly and in a straight line, with performance six-pot callipers at the front and four-pot at the rear.
The chassis is coated to help the Land Rover resist rust, and the One of One is also treated to a rather nice set of 18-inch alloy wheels. There's also a front end conversion, with LED lamps and colour-coded wing mirrors.
A Defender's fit and finish as it left the Solihull production line was often what one might call hit and miss, so Twisted devote a lot of time, effort and money to making the 4x4's cabin more habitable.
This starts with stripping out the interior, realigning panels and - you'll be glad to hear - making sure the Land Rover is actually watertight. Proper dual-layer soundproofing is fitted, to help banish the travelling-in-a-biscuit-tin racket familiar in Defenders, and Twisted also fit some proper carpet.
The seats get retrimmed in leather - in the owner's choice of colour, of course - and Twisted fit a media system that features contemporary gadgets such as Apple CarPlay, a DAB radio and a reversing camera. Such things were the stuff of science fiction when the original Land Rover debuted in 1948...
The lucky 16 owners should get their One of One Twisted Defenders in 2023 - 40 years after the 110 was first launched.
You will be wanting to know the price of owning a vehicle as individual as this.
The utility wagon version - essentially a five-seat cabin with a van-like load space - starts at £135,000 + VAT for the diesel and £174,500 + VAT for the petrol. If you want a station wagon - the seven-seat variant - then you'll need to find an extra £10k.
That's a lot of money, whatever way you look at it, but as Twisted point out, you will be getting to own a vehicle that is "the last of a generation, never to be replaced".
