From the archives: This impromptu photos session was taken one day when we drove Sopris from our Minneapolis workshop to our Renville workshop (about 100 miles away) to deliver parts.

About 45 miles down the road, we started smelling overheating and burning.

She wasn`t driving as smoothly as she had the first part of the trip. We pulled over to investigate, but there were no apparent signs - just a feeling of something wrong.

We should note that this is our workshop truck, and we only sometimes look after them as we should. Seems like she had a transfer case leak, and nobody noticed, as we had only ever taken her on short trips for parts, lunch, or a random trip around the nearby lake for some fresh air.

On this day, the extra heat from the long trip caused the dry transfer case to fight with one of the bearings.

A testament to their durability, we were able to limp her back to the workshop via backroads (stopping every so often to let it cool down and take photos).

We made it all the way back to the workshop before the transfer case finally gave out. When we opened it up, a pile of shiny bearing parts fell onto the ground.

Two lessons here:

1. Perform essential maintenance on your Defenders
2. Even when broken, they won`t leave you stranded

#defender #landrover #landroverdefender #defender90 #defenderrestoration #defenderlife #defenderlifestyle

Our Defender sourcing approach introduces us to a variety of amazing people where we get to share in the history of their adventures with the Land Rover.

We prefer to source directly from the owners rather than through brokers, dealers, or other trade professionals. Not only does it eliminate unnecessary markup and incentives to hide things on the Defender, but it also gives us the chance to meet the people who took care of these vehicles before entrusting us with the preservation of its legacy.

Here are a few photos from our recent Land Rover Defender 110 2.8i (Petrol) we took in for preservation.

If you’re not familiar with this engine package in a Landy, you might be surprised. When BMW owned the company they discovered that their online 6-cylinder petrol engine fit nicely inside the engine bay. The result was a very smooth running, fuel efficient Defender am that performed just as well on the highways as it did in the bush.

She’s undergoing a much-needed refurbishment, but is currently available for sale/adoption for someone looking for a great Defender.

#defender #landroverdefender #landrover #defender90 #defender110 #defender130 #bishoprook #lifeofadventure #4x4 #defenderrestoration #overland #boxycar #landroverseries #classiccar

We don`t often get around to posting some of our interiors - because we don`t often get a chance to photograph them. Once we get the projects finished up, we try to get them to the customers as fast as possible.

Interior trimming is an art form and there are few folks that can do it right. We happen to work with some incredibly talented people that can create just the right balance of heritage style, with a bit of personal touch.

Too much leather seems over-the-top for us in a Defender. But just the right amount, in the right places, and oh-la-la, does it look nice.

Combine that trimming with a custom automatic conversion, electric windows, air conditioning, and a touch screen stereo with front and rear cameras, and you have something that rivals some of the best cars off the production line.

We hand-build cars. It takes a lot of time, but it`s worth the wait.

#defender #defender110 #landrover #landroverdefender #onelifeliveit #defender90