Photo: Vagabund Moto
Vagabund Motor is an elite automotive design studio and customization workshop that has gained international notoriety by exploring the creative possibilities within the realm of classic motorcycles. However, lately, they have taken a break from creating one-off two-wheelers and concentrated on enriching the custom four-wheel market with their unique creations.
So far, the Graz, Austria-based shop's venture into car projects looks quite promising. The latest addition to their repertoire uses a Land Rover Defender 90 as the donor vehicle and was built in collaboration with Dakar Garage.
Work on this bespoke project, which is only the shop's third 4×4 build, started a few years ago but saw several delays from parts suppliers due to the pandemic. Nonetheless, the build is now complete, and the pickup truck has been turned into the beauty you see here.
As with any other custom project, it all started with disassembling the car. After being stripped down to the frame, the Defender was rebuilt in Vagabund Moto's signature sleek and minimalistic style, with gray and black livery and the shop's red badge plastered on the car's back fender.
When looking at it from the side, you notice a bit of countershading, with lighter gray at the front grading to dark gray and then black once you move toward the rear of the car. The shop's name is written in tall lettering across the sides.
The modifications to the exterior of the custom Defender include steel bumpers fore and aft and flared fenders at all four corners, which are meant to accommodate larger wheels. The car rides on off-road tires, yet no details have been unveiled regarding the size of the wheel set.
The interior also follows the same minimalistic design and matches the dark color palette of the exterior. It is fitted with a set of sports seats, an aftermarket steering wheel, and a custom Alcantara dash. A custom, removable Bluetooth speaker cube is also part of the package.
The windshield folds down onto the hood of the vehicle, providing an enhanced driving experience, as it allows the driver and passenger to enjoy the open air without compromising safety or comfort.
Moving on to the pickup truck's bed, the original flooring has been replaced with marble flooring, and several tie-down points have been added for securing bikes.
Details are scarce about the performance improvements, if any, but we know Dakar Garage has helped rebuild the V8 engine lying under the hood of the Defender, which is mated to a manual gearbox.
Hailed as the ultimate iconic British vehicle, the Land Rover Defender was designed to handle a wider variety of terrain, regardless of the conditions, and has kept its reputation over the years. However, Vagabund's Defender-based build is not meant to rove the land, though it would be perfectly capable of doing so.
As per the workshop, "What we tried to achieve is more an art statement than an item of daily use. [...] What is the purpose of this vehicle then? It's going for a Sunday coffee run when the weather is nice and the sun is shining." Undoubtedly, this one-off build will provide its owner with plenty of fun and relaxed Sunday rides.
Work on this bespoke project, which is only the shop's third 4×4 build, started a few years ago but saw several delays from parts suppliers due to the pandemic. Nonetheless, the build is now complete, and the pickup truck has been turned into the beauty you see here.
As with any other custom project, it all started with disassembling the car. After being stripped down to the frame, the Defender was rebuilt in Vagabund Moto's signature sleek and minimalistic style, with gray and black livery and the shop's red badge plastered on the car's back fender.
When looking at it from the side, you notice a bit of countershading, with lighter gray at the front grading to dark gray and then black once you move toward the rear of the car. The shop's name is written in tall lettering across the sides.
The modifications to the exterior of the custom Defender include steel bumpers fore and aft and flared fenders at all four corners, which are meant to accommodate larger wheels. The car rides on off-road tires, yet no details have been unveiled regarding the size of the wheel set.
The interior also follows the same minimalistic design and matches the dark color palette of the exterior. It is fitted with a set of sports seats, an aftermarket steering wheel, and a custom Alcantara dash. A custom, removable Bluetooth speaker cube is also part of the package.
The windshield folds down onto the hood of the vehicle, providing an enhanced driving experience, as it allows the driver and passenger to enjoy the open air without compromising safety or comfort.
Moving on to the pickup truck's bed, the original flooring has been replaced with marble flooring, and several tie-down points have been added for securing bikes.
Details are scarce about the performance improvements, if any, but we know Dakar Garage has helped rebuild the V8 engine lying under the hood of the Defender, which is mated to a manual gearbox.
Hailed as the ultimate iconic British vehicle, the Land Rover Defender was designed to handle a wider variety of terrain, regardless of the conditions, and has kept its reputation over the years. However, Vagabund's Defender-based build is not meant to rove the land, though it would be perfectly capable of doing so.
As per the workshop, "What we tried to achieve is more an art statement than an item of daily use. [...] What is the purpose of this vehicle then? It's going for a Sunday coffee run when the weather is nice and the sun is shining." Undoubtedly, this one-off build will provide its owner with plenty of fun and relaxed Sunday rides.
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