Selected donors
Candidate vehicles are assessed for condition, identity, suitability and the requirements of their destination market.
Chapter III · The human detail
Built from the
Built from the
inside out.
Body-off restoration begins with structure and mechanical integrity, then moves outward to paint, trim and the details you touch on every drive.
What you see is only the final layer.
Restoration begins below the surface. Structure, drivetrain, braking, suspension and electrical systems are evaluated before cosmetic work is allowed to define the vehicle.
Every finish and material must belong to the Defender. Improvements are made with restraint, preserving the honest simplicity that made the original so enduring.
01
Structure before surface.
Body and chassis are approached as the foundation of the finished vehicle. Panels are assessed, repaired and aligned before preparation and paint begin.
Assessment · Metalwork · Panel alignment · Corrosion protection
02
Mechanical confidence.
Components are inspected as part of a complete mechanical system. Renewal is guided by condition, reliability and the intended character of the commission.
Drivetrain · Brakes · Suspension · Steering · Cooling
03
A finish with depth.
Preparation gives paint its quality. Colour, sheen, hardware and panel fit are considered together so that the exterior feels coherent rather than newly decorated.
Surface preparation · Paint · Hardware · Final assembly
04
Materials chosen to age well.
Italian leather, stitching, carpets and tactile controls are composed around use. The cabin should become more personal with time, not feel precious on the first journey.
Italian leather · Trim · Carpets · Controls · Comfort
Built into every commission
Confidence is part of the finish.
Complete inspection
Mechanical, structural and electrical systems are evaluated as part of the restoration scope.
Documented work
The specification and restoration decisions form a clear record of the finished Defender.
Road testing
Completed Defenders undergo quality control inspections and 1,000 kilometres of road testing before release.
From the workshop · InstagramFollow the work,
Follow the work,
not only the reveal.
39KFollowers at @riverhouselandrover
Build progress, workshop details and newly completed Defenders are shared with the River House community throughout the week.
Follow @riverhouselandroverSpecify the Defender that fits your life.
Begin with its purpose, body style and driving character. River House will help translate those priorities into one coherent restoration brief.
Start your commission