What does a successful Formula One driver keep in his garage for popping down to the shops? In the case of Lando Norris you would probably expect it to be something from the Mclaren stable.
Whilst I have no doubt that he has at least one Mclaren, his personal transport for tootling round his home town of Monaco, might surprise you. He has just taken delivery of a bespoke, topless, retro-styled Land Rover Defender at his home in Monaco.
The car, by Leeds based Retro Automotive, retains the rugged original looks of the Land Rover Defender 90, but comes with a host of unique features, details and craftsmanship that are tailored to Lando’s exacting specifications.
One of the most striking styling modifications to the car, is the complete removal of its roof – a first for Retro Automotive, the specialist classic Land Rover restorers commissioned to create the car for the racing star.
“When we consulted with Lando about his customisation project, he was clear that he wanted the car to be completely topless, without any form of roof or sticks,” explains Ben Davies, director at Retro Automotive. “We’ve never had that request before. Customers normally want some form of roof on it, so this really enhanced the individuality of the creation.”
Aside from the bodywork, the retro-styled Defender also features a distinctive McLaren-inspired colour combination. The Nardo Grey is a special pearlescent mix, made just for Lando, while the Muirhead Egyptian Blue leather adds some Mediterranean cool to the finish. 3D-printed metal ‘Lando Norris’ iconography is displayed around the car, including at the centre of the hand-finished leather steering wheel.
Comfort and useability were high on the list of Lando’s specification for the creation, which resulted in a restoration build up from bare metal, taking more than 1,000 hours.
The car sits low and squat, but with its adjustable air suspension, is ready for the Riviera’s beaches at the flick of a switch. The rear bench seats have been extended to ensure Lando can accommodate even more passengers on his journeys. Entertainment has not been overlooked, and the car’s Pioneer head unit features Apple CarPlay. The Defender is also fitted with a removable Marshall Kilburn II cubby speaker system that can be pulled out and taken onto the beach to provide passengers with some serious cool summer sounds, even when they’ve left the vehicle.
Having completed and delivered Lando’s Defender project to Monaco, the team are now busy creating other retro project vehicles for customers around the globe. So, if you’re out and about and see an unusual looking Defender, it may well have originated from Retro Defenders’ Yorkshire home, and be owned by another high-profile celebrity.
To discover more about Retro Automotive, visit www.retrodefenders.co.uk or follow @Retro_Defenders on Instagram.