Dutch custom shop shows one-off Defender build

DUTCH customiser Heritage Customs has revealed its gorgeous one-of-one Land Rover Defender 110 ‘Copperhead’ commission.

Heritage Customs offers ‘Carchitecture’ as a service, offering clients highly personalised vehicle customisation under the ‘Valiance’ moniker.

The coachbuilder heavily customised the Land Rover Defender, both inside and out, with distinctive 20-inch gun metal forged Rock Dust steelies and soft green Alcantara interior trim.

The customising didn’t stop there, though, with ‘magic metal’ featured on the Copperhead, using a unique metal binding technology.

This unique exterior finish is achieved by spraying a thin layer of metal onto the vehicle, which then assumes the same flexibility as the underlying steel. Heritage Customs is then able to brush, polish, sand and oxidise the material, producing a truly unique finish.

A variety of custom wheel options are available for Valiance customs, in 20- and 22-inch sizes, depending on stance and performance goals.

Inside, Heritage Customs went all out with soft green Alcantara and oyster-coloured leathers with Magic Metal Copper accents, completed with an off-white trim theme.

“The Heritage Customs Carchitecture services elevate our work as a house of car design into a new space; it is the haute couture of our industry,” explained Heritage Customs co-owner Niels van Roij.

“For the commissioning owner Carchitecture offers the ultimate in individuality, self-expression and design service. 

“Far more than just a beautiful motor car, a Carchitecture creation becomes a legacy, co-created by the owner and our team. Often a commission embodies something personal for each client.

“As a car designer, too, Carchitecture provides fantastic creative freedom; there are many opportunities at our hands to take the design of the donor car and improve the materials, wheels, details and craftsmanship to the highest level.”

The Copperhead was hand-tailored to bring this customer’s vision to life, offering a taste of what Heritage Customers is capable of and putting them on the map as a serious custom contender.

“Copperhead is a true one-off Valiance designed and hand-tailored to fit this specific customer. Together with this connoisseur we realised his vision of a one-off luxury Valiance like no other,” said Heritage Customs co-owner Jan-Pieter Kroezen.

“This Carchitecture project is based on a 2022 Land Rover Defender 110. Copperhead was created by the skilled craftsmen at Heritage Customs.

“The car features a host of exterior changes, amongst which the 20-inch Gun Metal forged Rock Dust wheels, Magic Metal Copper grille bar, bonnet plates, side vents and interior details.

“Inside we find one of our four brand new seat designs. This includes fine details such as brogue decorative perforations and the pattern for the cooled seats ventilation inspired by the Heritage Customs logo.”

This not the first Valiance Defender from Heritage Customs, either, with previous convertible builds breaking the internet – and rightfully so.

Heritage Customs is able to build custom Valiance models in ‘about 1.5 months’, involving a comprehensive design and build process out of its studios at Klaas & Terlouw and Kaeve Uden – in the Netherlands.