It’s no secret that we love customized Land Rover Defenders here at Pickuptrucktalk. The Defender is an off-roading icon, and like the Jeep Wrangler it is a very popular vehicle for aftermarket customization. The folks at Osprey Custom Cars have unveiled their interpretation of the icon, and it goes in a very distinct direction to help get its point across.
Like other Defender builds, Osprey uses an older 110 as the donor rig, with a 1992 era model being tasked with this key role. Like other recent Defender build’s the key changes here are found under the hood with Osprey’s tuners cramming in a 6.2 liter LS3 V8 which is good for 480 horsepower and 485 lb-ft of torque. This potent eight cylinder is mated to a six speed automatic which is certainly up to the task of effectively using all of that potent muscle.
But thankfully, Osprey did not sacrifice the essentials to transform the 110 into something its clearly not. This is still a very potent off-road offering, with PUMA sourced front and rear axles, a HD LT230 transfer case, custom front and rear drive shafts, and so much more. Our favorite feature has to be the Griffin Megacool aluminum radiator that comes equipped with dual cooling fans to help keep the V8 cool in tough off-road conditions.
The exterior styling retains its Defender DNA, but it has been throughly modernized with LED front and rear lighting elements, turn signals, marker lights, and even the turn signal bulbs. Slick LED halo lighting up front helps give Osprey’s creation a distinctive look at night, and also enhances nighttime visibility at the same time.
Optional billet aluminium door handles are available as well as other minor exterior components. The interior is where the Camaro side of things is most prevalent with a Camaro style shifter knob that features an LED shift indicator light. Autobiography grade dark charcoal leather seats greet occupants with heated cushions and diamond stitching. Dual USB ports help provide charging for occupants while piano black finish plastic trim, PUMA sourced custom dashboard with upgraded climate system, as well as wireless phone charging pads.
Osprey’s suite of upgrades are quite impressive, but be prepared to fortify your wallet to be able to handle the price of admission, with base versuons of this build starting at just under $190,000. Adding accessories to the truck (including the curiously named “Fire and Ice steps”) will cause it easily eclipse $200,000. But with the hardware upgrades, interior revisions, and the performance numbers wielded by the Osprey it could indeed be worth it for hardcore off-road fans.