For a decade, stuffing a V8 into a classic Defender meant going to an independent restomod shop while Land Rover watched from the sidelines. The factory just ended that era. Land Rover Classic’s Defender division will now perform the Works V8 conversion on your own 2012 to 2016 Defender 90 or 110: a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 making 405 horsepower and 380 lb-ft through an 8-speed ZF automatic, replacing the 122-horsepower diesel these trucks left Solihull with. It is more than an engine swap, with an entirely new chassis, Bilstein dampers, Eibach springs, and Alcon four-piston brakes. The price is £150,000, roughly $200,000, which is exactly what the 150-unit 2018 Works V8 run cost before it sold out in a month. Conversions happen exclusively at Classic Works in the UK and Germany, and the program is limited to select markets, so American owners should enquire before dreaming too hard.
Land Rover Classic Defender Works V8 Conversion
Land Rover Classic will drop a 405HP 5.0L V8 into your 2012-2016 Defender, with a new chassis, Bilstein suspension, and Alcon brakes. From ~$200,000.
