Key Takeaways
- Heritage Customs introduces the Valiance pickup truck, based on the Land Rover Defender 130.
- Land Rover has hinted at but never pursued a pickup based on the modern Defender.
- Costs around €155,000 ($166,200), but that includes the donor Defender 130.
Heritage Customs, the company behind the Defender convertible, has now introduced the Valiance pickup truck, which is based on the Defender 130. The custom vehicle is described as a “semi-coachbuilt project” based on a Defender 130 X Dynamic SE. The design company hasn’t shared many details, but it notes that the job includes pickup conversion, paintwork, custom wheels and tires, premium leather upholstery, and a Heritage Custom decals pack.
The company hasn’t shared any technical details. In the United States, the Defender 130 X Dynamic is powered by the P400 mild-hybrid engine. This turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine develops 395 horsepower, which is sufficient for the Defender 130 and will be more than enough for the Valiance truck.
Land Rover Defender Looks Great As A Pickup Truck
Heritage Customs says the Defender pickup truck offers customers the same performance and luxury as the convertible. Clients will work closely with the builder to select high-end materials for the interior and specify unique exterior touches. It’s an imposing-looking machine. The overall styling remains unchanged, which shows just how well-suited the Defender is to being a pickup truck.
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With a spare wheel fixed to the roof, the Defender Valiance pickup looks equal parts rugged and upmarket. The most significant changes take place in the rear end; gone is the boxy glasshouse that covers the third row of seats. In its place is a useable load bay with an integrated sports bar. While less practical than a Ford F-150 (or even a Ford Ranger), the Defender Valiance will undoubtedly appeal to rugged, adventurous (and wealthy) types – think falconers in Abu Dhabi.
The Valiance Pickup Commands A Hefty Chunk Of Change
As for the cost, the Valiance carries a scandalously high price tag. Heritage Customs says the premium pickup will set buyers back around €155,000 ($166,200), considerably more than an F-150 Raptor R or a brand-new Range Rover Autobiography. That said, the company has an “All Black” variant for sale on its website for a more reasonable €142,561.98 ($152,900). This includes the cost of the Defender 130 donor car.
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The company requires a €15,000 ($16,000) deposit to reserve a build slot and says customers are expected to pay 50% of the total cost once the build commences. The rest of the money is paid upon completion. Unfortunately, there’s no mention of how long the commission takes, but Heritage Customs notes that its customers will be kept in the loop with video and photo updates. It’s worth noting that Land Rover chief engineer Stuart Frith said he’d love to see a Defender truck come to fruition. “It’s something that I would personally like to do because I think the Defender brand would lend itself to a ute very much so. And we’ve seen that in the history of Defender in particular,” he remarked at the time.
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