Departing from their namesake Land Rover Defender build projects, East Coast Defender recently began offering completely restored and customized Range Rover Classics. The company just revealed its second RRC, which sports the appropriate moniker “Project Red Rover.” The build features a 6.2-liter GM V8 mated to a six-speed automatic. Its exterior styling is smoothed and streamlined and rides on simple but gnarly black five-spoke rims. The vehicle’s new name refers to its Carmen Red paint job, which uses a color offered on the original Range Rover Classic. Based on the first RRC build by ECD, which is specced similarly to Project Red Rover and cost its owner ~$180,000, it’s likely that this build cost its owner somewhere just south of $200,000 as well.
Originally offered from 1970 to 1996, the Classic was the Range Rover division’s first official vehicle. Powered by a variety of V8s and turbo-diesel inline-four engines with manual and automatic transmission offerings, the Classic began its lifecycle as a two-door (with rear liftgate); the four-door model was added in 1981. in the North American market, the first Range Rover was a rare sight, as it was hampered by regulations and financial problems, but those that came to these shores were largely grey market vehicles. In 1987, a revised Range Rover featuring fuel injection finally made it stateside in an official capacity. The ur-SUV was an instant smash hit for overlanding enthusiasts and luxury aficionados alike, and its cult status is now stronger than ever. And somehow, East Coast Defender’s builds improve on the old truck even further.