Every time I hear the word ‘Land Rover’, the first thing that pops into my mind is the Defender and its iconic, utilitarian shape that many find so attractive. But that has changed now thanks to this rendering of ‘Van Defender’ by Samirs Customs.
Digitally illustrated by renowned designer Samir Sadikhov, who has experience working at Lamborghini and most recently Rezvani Motors, the Van Defender is exactly what the name suggests – a Defender with a body of a passenger van. While some fans may take it as a sign of disrespect towards the legendary off-roader, I can’t help but admire the sheer badassery of this contraption.
As you can see, the Van Defender combines a quirky silhouette with a plethora of rugged accessories to create a unique off-road machine with an unmatched go-anywhere capability. These include steel front and rear bumpers, protection bars on the front and rear part of the greenhouse, as well as flared fenders that guard the body from road debris such as stone and dirt. Essentials can be stored on the roof rack.
Oversized off-road rubbers with huge tread blocks provide more traction on loose surfaces and keep you from getting stuck should you wander off the beaten track. But if you do get stuck, the two hooks are there to get you out of trouble. Two full-size spare tyres are also present for added assurance.
There are no photos of the interior but my best guess is that it has two rows of seats for four or five passengers and plenty of room in the back. The posts on Samirs Customs’ Instagram account say the Van Defender is a “dream of campers and adventurers”, so there could be a mini kitchen and a bed too, for all we know.
The Van Defender might never see the light of day but if there is enough demand, I don’t see any reason why it couldn’t be built, considering there are plenty of donor vehicles just sitting out there ready to be cannibalized for parts. And seeing the number of customized Defenders that have rolled out over the years, we surely have enough experts that could carry out this kind of task.
