There’s nothing quite like a Land Rover Defender, especially when it’s reimagined by Helderburg Defenders. Meet Dragan, a bespoke Land Rover Defender D130 handcrafted as a tribute to founder Paul Potratz’s father. With a price tag of $368,788, Dragan is pure craftsmanship; it’s a statement. Built with strength, legacy, and performance in mind, Dragan is a rolling work of art powered by the revolutionary Helderburg Mark 3.5 turbodiesel engine.

At its core, Dragan is about legacy. Every March 31st, Paul designs something special in honor of his late father, who was a man of resilience, depth, and wisdom. This year’s tribute is Dragan, named from the Slavic tradition that symbolizes something precious. It embodies a man who lived with quiet integrity and immense strength. More than a machine, Dragan is a living memory molded in aluminum, steel, and leather.

Under the hood lies Helderburg’s proprietary Mark 3.5 turbodiesel engine, a total reinvention of the classic Land Rover TD5. After three years of meticulous engineering, this powerplant solves the greatest flaw of vintage Defenders—underwhelming power. The Mark 3.5 delivers modern diesel grunt while retaining the authentic Land Rover Defender charm. With torque to spare and a soundtrack that growls with authority, this engine transforms the Defender into a high-performance beast capable of overtaking with confidence and cruising with ease. Despite the significant power boost, it maintains a respectable 26–29 mpg. Thanks to custom clutch upgrades, the five-speed manual transmission handles the muscle effortlessly.

Helderburg didn’t stop at diesel performance. Dragan comes outfitted with ARB differentials, performance brakes with oversized cross-drilled rotors, and aggressive Maxxis Trepador 35-inch tires. Custom touches like a Raptor-coated bed, Warrior winch bumper, 12,000-pound billet winch, adventure rack with 2,400 watts of LED lighting, and Helderburg’s own acoustic glass package push this build into elite territory.

Inside, the craftsmanship continues. The Black Sand and Chocolate Scottish leather interior is designed to accommodate drivers up to 6-foot 6-inches, and the Italian Alcantara headliner exudes luxury. The 800-watt Grand Utopia Hi-Fi audio system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto ensures every drive is a concert.

Northwest Arkansas-based Helderburg isn’t just a shop—it’s a movement. Founded by a man who grew up wrenching on diesel imports in his father’s shop, Paul Potratz built Helderburg with one mission: to transform the Defender into a powerful, comfortable, and daily-drivable machine without losing its soul. With 3,000 hours going into each hand-built unit and a dedicated team of 19 craftsmen, Helderburg Defenders are as rare as they are refined.

Dragan is the embodiment of everything Helderburg stands for—strength, craftsmanship, heritage, and performance. If you believe diesel should be felt as much as heard, and if you appreciate the purity of hand-built excellence, then Dragan and similar Helderburg builds might just be your dream come true.

Photos: Helderburg Defenders