WORK IN PROGRESS

What’s your vehicle? A 2006 Defender 90 Td5.

What do you do for a living? I’m a director of Alpine Restorations, based at Sowerby Bridge, near Halifax. We specialise in high-quality sales, servicing and repairs of Defenders.

What’s the story? It’s officially our demonstration vehicle rebuild, but it’s also my everyday car. I’ve owned it two years. It was originally a farm truck in Keswick Green. We resprayed it in metallic Santorini Black.

How is the engine running? It has been rebuilt with many new parts and it’s running absolutely perfectly. It has got a big intercooler and radiator and a Pipercross air filter but we have not had it re-mapped yet

What have you done so far? It has been fully rebuilt from the ground up, on a galvanised chassis, with an Ashcroft auto conversion, Polybushes and soundproofing.

What has been the hardest part? Finding the time to complete it. It is a real labour of love.

What’s the story with those tyres? They are massive 35 inch Maxxis Trepadors and although they would help make it very capable off-road it would be a shame to do so and risk damage as a lot of time and money has been invested into it.

What are the next jobs? I’ll be fitting suede headlining and Twisted wheels.

When will it be finished? The plan is to have it ready for the show season this summer, but I’ve got a new baby due at the end of July so I might not be able to make Kelmarsh.

Is anyone else helping you? Yes, my dad in his spare time. He’s a big Land Rover fan, too. Does it turn heads? People stop and stare when I drive past, but maybe that has got something to do with the full custom stainless exhaust (she’s loud).

Any other projects on the go? We currently have a 6x6 Defender Td5 in the workshop, lined up for something a bit special!

Tell us about some of the other Land Rovers you have owned? I have been lucky to have owned many over the years – my first car was a 90 300Tdi – but this is by far the best.

What are your plans with it? Enjoy owning and driving it and stop mysef from pulling it to bits to change its appearance!

Are you planning on replacing it? Never say never! There are so many Land Rovers. I do love the idea of a Series III Stage One V8 at some time in the future…