Heritage Customs Builds The Land Rover Defender Pickup Land Rover Didn’t

Land Rover refused a Defender pickup. But a Dutch company judged otherwise, not quite right. Heritage Customs, based in the Netherlands, has just built the first modern Defender truck—the one Land Rover wouldn’t have built.

It began with a long-wheelbase Land Rover Defender 130, which was then modified and transformed into a legitimate pickup. It’s kind of like an updated version of the Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster, which is itself modeled after the iconic Defender 110 pickup.

This actually looks like something Land Rover might have made themselves, from a distance. But then you realize the trouble—the bed is tiny. Heritage acknowledges it’s only about a meter long and 1.4 meters wide. So no, it’s not for taking on any serious things. This truck belongs to people who care more about style than practicality, and frankly, that may be the point.

The setup is from the V8-powered Defender 130, which, however, no longer has a 130-inch wheelbase. Both the 110 and 130 versions sit on the same 119-inch base, with the 130 just getting a longer rear overhang. That’s why there seems to be little room for the bed anymore—the rear wheels settle way too much forward. Ineos went the other way, stretching the Grenadier’s wheelbase to establish a properly proportioned pickup line.

Land Rover probably knew they’d have to do the same, which may be why they passed the idea over altogether. If you still want one, Heritage is taking deposits now for early 2026 builds. You will pay about €65,000 plus your donor Defender and then wait up to two to three months to convert. The costs are not low-cost or practical, but very cool.

For something even flashier, Heritage’s sister brand, Urban Automotive, is already teasing its version of the brand. They describe it as a more "modern" take, and it’s due to premiere at the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed. If you’re running for attention, that could be the one to wait for.