Helderburg’s bespoke Land Rover Defender D110, named Vesper, is built around a straightforward idea: preserve the shape and utility of a classic Defender while prioritizing luxurious comfort via materials, finishes, and drivetrain. Commissioned for a repeat owner in Big Sky, Montana, Vesper takes inspiration from the owner’s Bentley Flying Spur while keeping the proportions and purpose that made the Defender 110 such an enduring platform.
“When we set out to build Vesper, the goal wasn’t just to make a pretty Defender; it was to capture the soul of a Bentley, that effortless, understated confidence, and marry it to the honesty of a Land Rover,” said Paul Potratz, Founder of Helderburg. “It’s a gentleman’s cruiser that doesn’t mind getting its boots dirty.”
Powered By Diesel
Vesper is based on a classic Land Rover Defender D110, the longer-wheelbase version of the Defender known for its cargo space and work-truck practicality. Helderburg says the truck is powered by its Mark 3.5 turbo-diesel engine, tuned for torque, responsiveness, and a refined exhaust note.
Stripped To Perfection
The body uses new heavier-gauge aluminum panels along with a Puma-style bonnet fitted with hand-cut aluminum louvers. Helderburg also says the truck underwent a meticulous frame-off rebuild, with the chassis stripped and painted to match the body. The rear cargo area was engineered to retain one of the Defender 110’s defining strengths: enough room for 4×8 sheets of plywood or sheetrock to lie flat.
“At Helderburg, we obsess over the things you do not see,” Potratz explained. “Painting the frame to match the body and using heavier-gauge aluminum panels isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about structural integrity and a level of fit and finish that you can feel the moment you close the door. It sounds and feels solid, like a vault.”
Bentley-Inspired Interior
Inside, Vesper brings in Bentley-inspired details, including Mulliner-style diamond stitching and billet aluminum trim. The cabin takes cues from the owner’s Bentley Flying Spur. Obviously, the goal was not to turn the Defender into something unrecognizable, but rather to reinterpret the Defender’s original layout with tailored materials and a luxuriously finished presentation.
Hue Cues From A Flying Spur
Another defining element of the build is the paint. Vesper is finished in Dark Sapphire Blue, matched to the owner’s Bentley Flying Spur. Helderburg says every panel was removed and painted individually before reassembly, so the finish remains deep and consistent across seams, panel gaps, and edges.
The color shifts with the light. In low light, it can read almost black. In the sun, the blue becomes more obvious and much richer. That changing character is a key part of the truck’s visual identity and one of the clearest links to the Bentley that inspired it.
From A Czech Work Truck To Life In Big Sky
Before it became Vesper, this Defender lived a very different life. Helderburg says the truck belonged to Czech architect Lucas Varga in the late 1990s, when he used it to haul stone, timber, and building materials while restoring his family’s cottage after his father’s passing. In that form, it was exactly what the Defender 110 was built to be: a practical working vehicle with space, durability, and everyday usefulness.
That history now carries into its next chapter as Vesper heads to its new home in Big Sky, Montana, where it will rest alongside the client’s other Helderburg build. From a life hauling building materials as a Czech work truck to its second chapter in Montana as a bespoke half-million-dollar Bentley-inspired heirloom, Vesper retains its classic Defender D110 spirit.
You might also like
Critical Insight: What Oil Analysis Can Reveal About Your High Mileage Diesel Engine
Oil analysis of a high-mileage 6.0L Ford Power Stroke reveals fuel dilution issues, oil performance insights, and important next steps.
