The brief
Define the life ahead.
Body style, intended use, destination, driving character, colour and cabin preferences establish the direction. The purpose of the vehicle leads the specification.
Chapter II · The restoration
One clear journey.
One clear journey.
Thousands of decisions.
From the first brief to the final road test, every stage contributes to one coherent Defender.
Donor to handover
A body-off restoration, understood step by step.
Transparency matters when a vehicle is being rebuilt around you. The scope, specification and major decisions should be understood before they disappear beneath the finished surface.
This sequence shows how River House moves from brief to handover. Exact work remains specific to the donor vehicle, destination market and commission.
Selection
Start with the right donor.
Potential vehicles are assessed for identity, condition, configuration and eligibility for the intended destination. Rust-free donors from southern climates provide the preferred foundation.
Assessment
Disassemble and understand.
The vehicle is taken apart so that structural and mechanical condition can be evaluated directly. Findings inform the final restoration scope before rebuilding advances.
Engineering
Renew the mechanical whole.
Drivetrain, braking, steering, suspension, cooling and related systems are inspected and renewed according to condition and the agreed specification.
Body & paint
Prepare before finishing.
Metalwork, panel fit and surface preparation precede paint. River House describes a process involving sandblasting and hand finishing with high-quality paint.
Cabin & systems
Compose the interior.
Leather, trim, carpets, controls and electrical equipment are integrated as one cabin. Optional comfort technology can be considered without obscuring the Defender’s character.
Validation
Inspect, test and refine.
Quality control inspections and 1,000 kilometres of road testing verify the completed vehicle before release.
Handover
Deliver with confidence.
Documentation, final specification and logistics are brought together for handover. International delivery is arranged according to destination and client requirements.
A finished Defender is only as good as the stages beneath it.
Good restoration is not a collection of upgrades. It is the alignment of structure, mechanical character, materials and purpose.
See the process unfoldThe workshop,
The workshop,
as it happens.
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Instagram provides a continuous view into active restorations, workshop details and newly completed vehicles.
Follow the workshopEvery build begins with a useful brief.
Tell us where the vehicle will live, how it will be used and the qualities you value most. We can shape the specification from there.
Start your commission