Land Rover workhorse unveiled as "luxury tool"

Finished to Bentley-level standards, specialist Land Rover restorer Helderburg says its latest creation – dubbed Vesper – was engineered to remain a usable workhorse, with a cargo area designed to carry full-size building materials, despite its luxury overhaul.

Vesper is Helderburg’s latest one-off build, based on a Defender 110 originally used as a working vehicle in Europe. The brief was to mirror the owner’s Bentley Flying Spur while preserving the Land Rover’s original utility.

Despite its luxury positioning, Helderburg said the Defender remains fit for practical use, with the rear cargo area engineered to carry full-size building materials.

“When we set out to build Vesper, the goal wasn’t just to make a pretty Defender,” said Helderburg founder Paul Potratz.

“It’s a luxury tool, not a museum piece.”

Inside, the Defender features Helderburg’s bespoke interior finishes, including signature leather upholstery with diamond-stitching and billet aluminium detailing throughout the cabin.

Outside, the exterior is finished in a Dark Sapphire Blue hue – colour-matched to the client’s Bentley – with each body panel painted individually for a high-gloss finish.

A Puma-style bonnet with hand-cut aluminium cosmetic louvers also features.

The build also included a complete frame-off restoration, with the chassis stripped to bare metal and painted in the same exterior colour, visible even under the bonnet.

Vesper is the second Helderburg build for the client and reflects the brand’s ongoing focus on bespoke Defender commissions that balance luxury with real-world usability.

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