The Dutch company Heritage Customs has presented the world's first pickup truck based on the modern Land Rover Defender 130. The project, which previously existed only in the form of renders, has now been embodied in metal — and looks so harmonious that many could mistake it for a factory development of Land Rover. However, as it turned out, a serious problem is hidden behind the spectacular appearance — a tiny cargo compartment.
Heritage Customs took the long-wheelbase Defender 130 with a V8 engine and manually converted it into a pickup truck, offering two versions — the classic Heritage and the modern Urban. But, despite the impressive dimensions of the car, the length of the body was only 1000 mm (about 38 inches), and the width was 1400 mm. Such a trunk can accommodate only a couple of bags or a tool box, which makes the pickup truck more of a designer accessory than a useful car for pickup truck enthusiasts.
The reason for the limited space is the design features of the Defender. Unlike the old versions, where the model index indicated the length of the wheelbase, the modern Defender 110 and 130 have the same base — 3020 mm. The 130 version simply has an increased rear overhang, which gave more space in the cabin, but not under the body.
For comparison, the competitor Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster specifically received an extended wheelbase (3225 mm) to become a real working pickup truck. Heritage Customs, on the contrary, focused on style — and they succeeded: manual assembly, premium finish and spectacular design attract attention, but practicality is sacrificed.
The cost of conversion starts from 65,000 euros, and for this money the buyer receives not a utilitarian SUV, but rather an art object on wheels.