It really started back in the winter of 2016, when my 2001 Disco had a head gasket failure. We live 7 miles out on unmaintained Forest Service roads to get to our cabin, and I need a good 4 wheel drive vehicle with high clearance to get home. We have a dealer in Bend, Outland Motors, who deals with used Rovers and other SUV’s, so we went there to look for my next set of wheels. They had an old Santana, painted green with a soft top, and it was love at first sight. I looked it all over, and looked at LR3’s as well. We went home for the night while my Disco was inspected  and found it could not be fixed easily. All that night I dreamt and fantasied about driving that Santana. I was completely love struck. In the morning, I came to my senses and realized that the Santana could not be my “daily driver”. So, I went back and I decided on a black 2008 LR3. It has been a great truck, so quiet and comfortable, but I never forgot that Santana. 

Going back to Outland for servicing, or just to get a “fix”, I’d check for any Defenders for sale. Bill has them occasionally, and they are gorgeous, but the price tag was just too much for another fun ride. (Did I mention that I also have a , ’50 Honda Trail 90, ’48 Willy’s Jeep, a ’75 Ford High Boy, ’01 Disco, besides my LR3?)  I kept asking for a “beater” for getting to TH’s as I volunteer as a Wilderness Ranger, as well as lead week long wilderness projects all over the western states.

Finally, I started to look on the internet, a dangerous thing to do-I know. I wasn’t going to just put in a bid on eBay, I don’t know enough about cars to do that. But, I found a website that rebuilds  Defenders in the UK and Africa and ships to the US. I read every word on their website, looking at every truck they had, compared to other rebuilders, and then finally went to their Facebook page. Prices seemed to be about half of what I could find here, so I introduced myself. In May 2018 I started talking  to Rob and Chris of Transatlantic Trading Company, rebuilders and importers of bespoke Defenders.

At first I wanted a 90, something small and sporty. But as I spoke with Rob and Chris, I decided that a 110 would suit my needs better as I travel the country, haul my backpacking gear and sleep in the truck when I can to save hotel costs. At first I considered a deep blue metallic with silver trim. She was beautiful and ready to go. Even though the price was good, I don’t like blue cars. I considered respraying, but it was a shame as she was mint already. We  kept looking at inventory. They had a bus yellow Camel trophy replica that was nicely decked out, but my Disco already had most of that gear, and I was thinking about something more classic. The Camel was a good base truck that needed to be painted anyway, so I decided to have it stripped down and resprayed and built back up with a simple classic look.

The guys were great about sending me photos and details of the strip and build. The first part was more interesting for my partner George with springs, coils, and all the insides and under parts. Pretty early on I needed to decide the color scheme. I researched classic Defenders for little details like the lights, grill, tire size and paint configurations. I chose a simple Keswick Green with white top and wheels and older style lights.  Living in Central Oregon, I decided on heated windscreens, seats, and a separate diesel cabin heater. I would add a block heater once she reached the US.

Luckily, my summers are filled with working in the forests, and taking my grandkids backpacking. But as fall came on I was really getting anxious for my truck to arrive. At first I thought it might be ready for a September trip to New Mexico, where I have been working on constructing the Continental Divide Trail for 7 years. Then, October, George’s birthday, and a trip to Seattle to pick her up at the dock. Then November, a birthday present for me, and finally December, a Christmas present! 

Stormy Devon

Nope, she, “Devon” arrived in Tacoma on Jan 7th, and was delivered to me on a dark and rainy Thursday night. She was beautiful. The transporter couldn’t believe the paint job. We had her delivered about 2 miles from my daughters farm in Hillsboro because it was nice and flat and at the bottom of the hill. The transporter left, and there I was in the dark, with no idea how to drive her! Where are the lights, windscreen wipers, high beams and defroster? How to use the heater and go through the gears? The passenger door would not open, so George had to get in the back seat, the passenger seat was soaking anyway. With a flashlight we found  out what we needed and I practiced driving the the Laurel Church parking lot before going up the steep hill. I dropped off George at the farm and we all oohed and ahhhed over her, and then I took her back out in the night to drive. I ended going the 10 miles into downtown Hillsboro, and cruised the strip of Oak and Baseline and back out to the farm. At 68, I felt like a teenager.

The next morning I was driving the grandkids to school, with my daughter following. We pulled over to get a nice shot of the morning sun coming up in the fields. I asked her to just adjust the left side mirror, and in trying to move it, she pulled it off! So, here I was driving for the first time, right hand drive, left hand shifting and now no left side mirror!

The first week I just about lived in my new Defender. I had to figure out how the diesel heater  worked, where all the controls were, how to work the radio, adjust seats, etc. I definitely had a lock issue, as the passenger door would not open if you locked it with the key. All the keys looked very similar but opened only certain doors. I paired my phone with the radio, but it had no speaker, so callers could not hear me. Once I unpaired, phone calls came into my hearing  aid, which over the 200 TDi, I couldn’t hear them!

I took my new truck to Ships Mechanical in Portland, meeting Doug and Neil. They looked her over and test drove, and deemed her sound. However, there were a few things that I’d make an appointment for to be checked into. The next week of driving brought about a broken water pump pulley, so I had to have her towed back to Ships. They discovered a slight misalignment in the pulley, put in a new passenger door lock, fixed an incorrect hose type, put on a hitch receiver, a locking gas cap, and put the side mirror back on for me.  

Now I have figured out all the keys and labeled them, know how to use the diesel heater, and have almost memorized where all the controls are. I read somewhere that in a Defender, you are always an active driver, and I can attest to that. It’s a good thing that I love to drive!

I so enjoyed the process of rebuilding my Defender and working with Rob in the UK, and Chris in Vermont. I am looking forward to meeting the folks of Pacific Coast Rover Club and hope to someday meet Rob and Chris from TATC.