Four years after we first speculated that Land Rover might bring back a Defender pickup, the idea has finally become a reality – just not from the factory. Instead, two well-known British coachbuilders, Heritage Customs and Urban Automotive, have collaborated to create the world’s first Defender Pickup.
Back in 2021, we reported that Land Rover had hinted at expanding the Defender range to include a pickup, potentially reviving a body style that was once central to its appeal. It never happened. While the Defender 90, 110 and 130 models have all thrived, a pickup variant remained conspicuously absent, leaving room for the aftermarket to step in.
Two visions, one platform
Both Urban Automotive and Heritage Customs sit under the same AM Group umbrella, but their takes on the project couldn’t be more different. They each start witrh a Land Rover Defender 130 fitted with a 5.0-litre V8 engine producing 425hp. From there, the two divisions went their own way:
Heritage Edition: Refined, elegant, and classically inspired, this version channels the timeless simplicity of the original Defender crew cab, re-imagined with hand-crafted detailing and luxury materials.
Urban Edition: Bold, modern and aggressive, the Urban take embraces the company’s “OEM+” ethos with muscular styling, road presence, and contemporary touches that make it unmistakably Urban.
Patrick Meijer, CEO of AM Group, described the joint effort as “another unique project that pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in the luxury vehicle modification sector.”
Meanwhile, Jan-Pieter Kroezen of Heritage Customs said: “After completing the convertible, it felt like the right time to bring another ‘forgotten’ Defender model back to life — the pickup. The classic 110 crew cab has always been one of the most desirable Defenders ever made, and I’m proud that we’ve captured that same spirit with the new Defender 130.”
Luxury, not labour
While the word ‘pickup’ usually brings to mind mud, payloads and towing, this is something altogether different. The coachbuilt Defender Pickup is aimed squarely at collectors and luxury buyers rather than builders or farmers. Expect bespoke interiors, premium trim, and prices that will comfortably stretch into six figures.
That said, it’s an intriguing glimpse of what a modern Defender pickup might have been if Land Rover had built one itself, and proof that the format still has visual and emotional appeal.
Land Rover Defender pickup: Pricing and availability
The Urban Edition will make its public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed
in July 2026, while Heritage Customs has already revealed its version at a private event in the Netherlands.
A full production run hasn’t yet been detailed, but these are coachbuilt vehicles rather than mass-produced conversions. In other words, they’ll be rare, expensive, and likely sold before they’re shown.
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