2002 DEFENDER 110 HARD TOP Td5
TOM WATERS, YORKSHIRE VEHICLE HIRE, NORTH YORKSHIRE
This is not your average project. How did you find your 110?
We found this project in the back of the LRM magazine. In the Classified section to be exact. It was a project waiting to happen. We made it happen.
What’s the story so far?
We had this crazy idea of adding beer taps to the side of a Defender. I mean what is the first thing you want to do after a long drive? We wanted to find the right vehicle for the job. So after paying this 110 hard top a visit in Derbyshire, we knew that we had found what we were looking for. The pipe dream is now even closer to becoming reality!
How long have you owned it?
Just over six months and we have accomplished a fair bit in that time.
Is the Td5 engine sound? Or do you plan to pop in something meatier?
Engine is running smoothly – we have no plans to touch it. Td5s have shown that they are easily one of the best Defender engines ever.
What are your plans with it?
Now that we have installed the taps we have many plans for it – we will be taking it to Land Rover shows, country fairs, weddings. It will go where people love Defenders and beer.
What have you done so far?
So far we have resprayed the 110 a beautiful metallic black (it was blue). Then we fitted a Frontrunner Slimline Roofrack and a Big Country Ostrich Wing 270° Awning. We also added a new grille, light surrounds and finally some Heritage Defender mud flaps to freshen it up.
What about beer priorities?
We recently completed the first stage of the mobile bar in the back of the Defender. This includes a bracket for the cooling system, a holder for the gas cans and a fitted board for the beer lines. Let the games begin . . .
What are the next jobs you will be doing on it?
The next job is to get the second fix of the beer tap installation sorted. Then it will be going in to get some tasteful promotional branding.
What has been the hardest part of this project?
The hardest part was finding the right vehicle for the job at a sensible cost, something which was worth putting the hours in to finish up with exactly what we wanted.
When will it be finished?
It will be finished mid-september, ready to visit a few local events in North Yorkshire.
Who is helping you with the project?
So far it has been a bit of a family effort; my dad has been assisting with all the installations. Then my wife has been sorting all the licensing and insurance needed for a mobile bar. I have been doing everything else really. A big shout out has to go to Three Brother Brewery who have been a massive help with the installation of the beer line system. Do keep an eye out for some of their great beers on our Defender very soon!
Any other projects on the go?
We have a Series III which we are going to restore and add to our fleet of wedding Land Rovers for hire with Yorkshire Vehicle Hire.
Anything to add?
If you want to follow the progress of The Defender Beer Wagon, check out our Instagram @onetenontap. See you soon for a pint. Cheers!
NORTH AMERICA POSTAL: Land Rover Monthly Magazine (ISNN 022-287) is published monthly by Dennis Publishing Ltd, 31-32 Alfred Place, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7DP, UK. The US annual subscription price is £65. Airfreight and mailing in the USA by agent named WN Shipping USA, 156-15, 146th Avenue, 2nd Floor, Jamaica, NY11434, USA. Periodical postage paid at Jamaica NY 11431. US Postmaster: Send address changes to Land Rover Monthly Magazine, WN Shipping USA, 156-15, 146th Avenue, 2nd Floor, Jamaica, NY11434, USA. Subscription records are maintained at Dennis Publishing Ltd, 31-32 Alfred Place, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7DP, UK. Air Business Ltd is acting as our mailing agent. RETAIL DISTRIBUTION WORLDWIDE: Seymour, 2 East Poultry Avenue, London EC1 9PT Tel: +44 (0)207 429 4000 PRINTED by BGP, Bicester, Oxfordshire. LRM is published in the UK by Dennis Publishing Ltd © 2017 Dennis Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be copied or reproduced in any form without written permission of the publishers. Every care is taken in the production of LRM but the publishers will accept no liability for claims arising from any errors or omissions. Opinions expressed by the contributors are not necessarily those of the publishers.