Adventure Merchants’ 1994 Land Rover 300Tdi Defender

Joel – “We’d been talking to Brendan, the main man at Adventure Merchants for months, swapping messages about what parts to use, the perfect paint colour, how to kit out the back, you name it. Basically, if we were taking on Aussie, we wanted a truck we were familiar with. “So when Brendan offered up a 300Tdi Defender, six years newer but basically the same as our truck here in Auckland, it was a no brainer. We’ve been travelling through New Zealand in our 1988 Land Rover 110 for over six years now and have gotten to know the truck rather well. “After months of talking from afar we were then greeted at Sydney Airport by the very Defender you see in these photos. Fresh from panel & paint, Adventure Merchants had beyond outdone themselves with the build. “The end result is a 300Tdi Defender from late in the run, with some basic suspension work, BF Goodrich tyres, a strong old ‘roo bar up front ( essential in the Outback), spare wheel carrier, Front Runner rack system, two Crow’s Nest tents ( one Regular, one Extended) and everything else we needed for some touring through the orange stuff. “What better way to break in the fresh build than driving west for 14 hours on its first leg?”