Land Rover Defender goes topless in bespoke coachbuild

The second-generation Land Rover Defender is due to hit the streets and bush in convertible form next year, a nod to the original soft-top version – but in a much fancier guise.

The product of coachbuilder Niels van Roij Design, the Dutch company’s Heritage Customs arm has previewed the drop-top version of its Valiance – itself a modified version of the new Defender.

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However, just five units will be produced, and at a price in Europe that's equivalent to around $220,000.

Called the Valiance Convertible, it will be based on the short-wheelbase Defender 90 with the lower half of the body identical to the factory model, but a fabric top replaces the greenhouse with a hard lid.

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So far, three of the customer Valiance Convertibles have been detailed and previewed.

The first is named ‘Cote d’Azur’, featuring bespoke blue paint and whitewall tyres, while the ‘Solihull sand’ version is an homage to the original 1948 model. The third model shown is the ‘Kokkini Paralia’ with dark matte red exterior paint. All feature bespoke detailing, customised interiors and magic metal interior and exterior packs.

Heritage Customs claims buyers can “work closely with the team of specialist designers and craftspeople via the personal commission guide called Architecture”. In this program customers can create or enhance their own unique Heritage Customs vehicle.