A custom Defender designed in NW Arkansas,
read the world over.
Helderburg builds quietly, one commission at a time. The coverage has been anything but quiet. The work has been written about across more than sixty publications, on five continents, by editors who do not hand out attention lightly.
Most people will never see a Helderburg. The world’s press already has.
From New York to London, Paris to Dubai, Milan to Sydney. A vehicle commissioned for one person, written about by editors in twenty-one countries. Here is where the coverage has come from.
North America
- United States
Europe
- United Kingdom
- Ireland
- France
- Spain
- Italy
- Greece
- Croatia
- Serbia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Czech Republic
- Romania
- Ukraine
- Denmark
- Russia
Asia & Middle East
- India
- United Arab Emirates
- Bahrain
- Turkey
Africa
- South Africa
Oceania
- Australia
The stories worth reading first.
A selection of the publications that have looked closest at the work, what it is, how it is built, and why it is kept.
Written about around the world.
The view from outside the United States. Editors in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Oceania, on a Defender designed in Northwest Arkansas for owners across the globe.
Featured in Automoto.it, Rocco exemplifies Helderburg's design philosophy: preserving mechanical authenticity while refining every detail to luxury standards.
See the Full Story →Featured in Carscoops, Rocco demonstrates Helderburg's approach: a father-son commission built around re-engineered systems, not chased horsepower.
See the Full Story →The Byzek commission earned recognition from The Coolector as "espionage-grade elegance"—a shape-shifting Arctic Grey D110 with fully in-house engineered systems. Discover why this build represents a definitive pivot point for Helderburg.
See the Full Story →The Byzek commission earned recognition from The Coolector as "espionage-grade elegance"—a shape-shifting Arctic Grey D110 with fully in-house engineered systems. Discover why this build represents a definitive pivot point for Helderburg.
See the Full Story →The Helderburg Byzek appears in Lux & Passions as a rare commission that fuses Bond-inspired elegance, Arctic Grey drama, and grand-touring calm into a single mission-ready Defender.
See the Full Story →As first reported by iamsport, Vesper is the rare Defender that still fits sheets of plywood while wearing a Bentley-inspired dark sapphire blue suit.
See the Full Story →When a Defender D90 stops being “a build” and becomes a benchmark, you get Helderburg Osprey. Engineered for extreme mountain terrain, deep winter and long‑range motorway travel, this one‑of‑one commission blends 520 lb‑ft of diesel torque, up to 28 mpg and over 3,000 hours of development. It’s the rare Helderburg that even its creator wouldn’t change.
See the Full Story →Vesper is a Bentley‑inspired Helderburg Defender D110, reborn from an architect’s workhorse into a Dark Sapphire Blue luxury tool now profiled in depth by Autoevolution.
See the Full Story →Helderburg’s Signature Headlight System fixes a 70‑year‑old Defender safety flaw: narrow beams that ignore the road’s edges. Using proprietary optics and Side Beam Projection, it expands peripheral visibility, reduces glare for oncoming drivers, and becomes standard on all Helderburg commissions from summer 2026.
See the Full Story →Helderburg’s Signature Headlight System fixes a 70‑year‑old Defender safety flaw: narrow beams that ignore the road’s edges. Using proprietary optics and Side Beam Projection, it expands peripheral visibility, reduces glare for oncoming drivers, and becomes standard on all Helderburg commissions from summer 2026.
See the Full Story →Arvon is a one‑of‑one Helderburg Defender 110 soft top that took over 3,000 hours to build for a coastal family who wanted the ultimate four‑season Defender. Featured by Carscoops, it pairs a rebuilt numbers‑matching 2.8‑liter turbo‑diesel with bespoke cooling, High Pearl Metallic Blue paint, and a Hamptons‑inspired interior.
See the Full Story →What began as a secret surprise soon became a shared dream. When Travis set out to commission a one‑of‑one Helderburg Defender for his wife, she asked to help design it. The result is Arvon, a D110 soft‑top built for Hamptons life, open‑air coastal drives, and family adventures year‑round.
See the Full Story →Helderburg featured at Dream Escape. Step inside the world of Helderburg, where Paul Potratz channels his lifelong passion into creating bespoke Land Rover Defenders—each a unique masterpiece of British heritage and modern luxury. Discover how meticulous craftsmanship and personal storytelling combine to deliver more than a vehicle: experience rolling works of art designed for adventure, connection, and a life well lived.
See the Full Story →Helderburg featured at GadgetVoize. This one-of-a-kind vehicle, a numbers-matching heirloom, was meticulously crafted for a returning client’s growing collection and is designed to embody the resilience, sophistication, and enduring legacy of its namesake.
See the Full Story →Helderburg featured at Luxus.vz. In a market environment where rapid growth often erodes authenticity and exclusivity, Helderburg has chosen to protect the very foundation of its name.
See the Full Story →Helderburg featured at This Is British. Helderburg has distinguished itself with a radical choice: not growth for the sake of growth, but staying true to craftsmanship, heritage, and exclusivity.
See the Full Story →Helderburg featured at The Best Address. Helderburg, the acclaimed creator of bespoke, vintage Land Rover Defenders, is pioneering a new era in ultra-luxury automotive acquisition.
See the Full Story →Helderburg featured at Tick-Talk. “Only real lovers of vintage Land Rover Defender will receive a Helderburg Defender tailored by Helderburg in the future,”
See the Full Story →Helderburg featured at CarExpert. Land Rover Defender restomods don't get much tougher than this – the armoured, weaponised Helderburg Bellatrix.
See the Full Story →Helderburg featured at Signe. If you’re a fan of automotive craftsmanship, rugged British heritage, and ultra-luxurious custom builds, then Helderburg should definitely be on your radar.
See the Full Story →Helderburg featured at The Best Address. The article dives deep into this burgeoning industry, showcasing how high-end businesses are helping affluent individuals safeguard their families and assets while preserving their quality of life.
See the Full Story →Helderburg featured at BBC TopGear. Heck, it even has a smoke screen system. And yes, we can hear your jokes about that from here...
See the Full Story →Helderburg featured at AutosCommunity. Imagine a 300-acre farm in Upstate New York, not as a place of crops and livestock, but as a sanctuary for automotive artistry. This is Helderburg, where vintage Land Rover Defenders are reborn as $400,000+ works of rolling sculpture.
See the Full Story →Helderburg featured at NEWSAUTO. A previous generation Land Rover Defender carries history but has also created its own value. Value that can become very expensive.
See the Full Story →Helderburg featured at Luxe Infinity. Dans l’univers des restaurations de Land Rover Defender vintage, une entreprise se distingue par son savoir-faire inégalé et son sens du détail hors pair : Helderburg.
See the Full Story →Helderburg featured at The Best Address. The exciting new company behind the world’s most expensive vintage Land Rover Defender restorations, with projects often exceeding $400,000 USD.
See the Full Story →Helderburg featured at Autos Community Dubai. Helderburg is an exciting new company restoring British Solihull UK-built left-hand drive Land Rover Defenders. Based on a 300-acre farm in Upstate New York, Helderburg has exploded since launching in 2020, disrupting the vintage restomod Land Rover industry.
See the Full Story →Helderburg featured at Bursd.com. Geografisk er vi i staten New York, firmaet hedder Helderburg, et forholdsvis nyt foretagende, der har forvandlet en hobby, til noget der ligner en besættelse eller specialitet, og selv om vi er i USA, handler det om to biler. Porsche 911 og Land Rover – men det er kun Land Rover Defender der kan bruges.
See the Full Story →Helderburg featured at automobilemagazine.com.tr. Helderburg, an exciting new company restoring British Solihull UK-built left hand drive Land Rover Defenders.
See the Full Story →Helderburg featured at fleet.ie. Helderburg is a new company restoring British Solihull UK-built left hand drive Land Rover Defenders. Based on a 300-acre farm in Upstate New York, Helderburg has since launching in 2020 excelled in the vintage restomod Land Rover industry.
See the Full Story →Helderburg featured at abrbuzz.co.za. Helderburg, an exciting new company restoring British Solihull UK-built left hand drive Land Rover Defenders.
See the Full Story →Helderburg featured at Boosted.dk. Paul Portraz er ikke som folk er flest. Siden 2020 har han bygget Land Rover Defender-modeller om for millioner af kroner. En enkelt bil kan tage 3.000 timer.
See the Full Story →Helderburg featured at Autoevolution.com. The newly founded firm restores left-hand-drive Land Rover Defenders built in Solihull, UK, with an out-of-this-
See the Full Story →Italy’s Gazzetta featured Rocco, the latest Helderburg creation.
See the Full Story →The Spanish edition of Top Gear featured the Defender for its readers.
See the Full Story →On a new Defender built the old way, with the diesel kept on purpose.
See the Full Story →Reviewed the Helderburg Defender for readers in the Balkans.
See the Full Story →Featured the Helderburg Defender in a video review.
See the Full Story →On the classic Defender reborn as a designer off-roader.
See the Full Story →Covered the striking Helderburg version of the Defender.
See the Full Story →Featured the diesel Helderburg Defender.
See the Full Story →Featured Rocco, the re-engineered Helderburg Defender.
See the Full Story →Profiled the Helderburg Defender Rocco.
See the Full Story →Featured the diesel Defender for Croatian readers.
See the Full Story →Car and Driver’s Greek edition featured the Defender for its readers.
See the Full Story →Autocar India published a gallery of the Byzek Defender 110.
See the Full Story →Featured Vesper, a Defender with a refined, grand-touring character.
See the Full Story →Bahrain’s marine and lifestyle magazine featured the Byzek Defender 110.
See the Full Story →Featured Rocco, the boldest Helderburg Defender 110.
See the Full Story →The French Riviera luxury magazine featured the Helderburg Defender.
See the Full Story →Covered the Helderburg Defender in a video feature.
See the Full Story →Featured the bespoke Helderburg Defender for Russian readers.
See the Full Story →Profiled the unique Helderburg Defender commission.
See the Full Story →And closer to home.
From the financial press to the enthusiast press, the American coverage that helped define what a Helderburg is.
As featured on Motorious, Rocco is a Helderburg Defender 110 commissioned by a Nashville father and son, engineered as a future heirloom with numbers‑matching foundations and reimagined systems
See the Full Story →Diesel Army takes a detailed look at Vesper, a $450,000 Helderburg commission that fuses diesel Defender utility with Bentley-inspired calm for a client in Big Sky.
See the Full Story →OffRoadXtreme’s feature on Arvon reveals how a $393,000 one-of-one diesel Defender D110 became a family’s coastal, four-season companion instead of a fragile showpiece.
See the Full Story →Joe’s Daily recently spent time with Byzek D110, a one-of-one Helderburg commission that quietly moves the Defender beyond “restomod” language and into coachbuilt territory.
See the Full Story →Motorious recently profiled Osprey, a one‑of‑one Defender D90 authored for mountain winters, 520 lb‑ft of diesel torque, extended range, and a retired exterior color.
See the Full Story →Arvon is a one‑of‑one Helderburg D110 soft‑top: a $400,000 diesel Defender built over 3,000 hours for a Hamptons family, engineered to idle on hot sand and cruise all year.
See the Full Story →On the Collector Car Podcast, Helderburg’s founder explains how 25‑year‑old Defenders become one‑of‑one commissions—diesel power, UK craftsmen, and a life‑first design process.
See the Full Story →MSN spotlighted Arvon to ask why a family would spend nearly $400,000 on a classic Defender. The answer is a one‑of‑one Helderburg build: a 3,000‑hour, four‑season Defender 110 with a numbers‑matching diesel, coastal‑luxury interior, and engineering meant for decades of real use.
See the Full Story →Helderburg featured at Atlantic Saints. The Rolex Daytona was once the watch nobody wanted. Dealers would throw it in for "a couple hundred bucks" to good customers. However, what the market ignored has become the thing everyone now covets.
See the Full Story →Helderburg featured at OffRoadXtreme. There’s nothing quite like a Land Rover Defender, especially when it’s reimagined by Helderburg Defenders.
See the Full Story →Helderburg featured at JustLuxe. Helderburg continues to set the benchmark at a time when vintage Land Rover Defenders are more sought-after than ever for restoration.
See the Full Story →Helderburg featured at Slashgear. If you've ever done a double-take at a six-figure listing for a decades-old Land Rover Defender, you're not alone.
See the Full Story →Helderburg featured at VUE Atlanta. In a world where automotive restoration is often driven by profit, Helderburg stands apart as a brand built on passion, craftsmanship, and an uncompromising commitment to quality.
See the Full Story →Helderburg featured at MSN: Meet Bellatrix: a modified and armoured Land Rover Defender with enough gadgets to ensure that it wouldn't look out of place in the next Bond movie.
See the Full Story →Helderburg featured at Elevated Magazines. Helderburg, an exciting new company restoring British Solihull-built left-hand-drive Land Rover Defenders, was born from a passion of hobbies and an interest in converting vintage Land Rover Defenders into luxurious daily drivers.
See the Full Story →Helderburg featured at Road & Track. The original Land Rover Defender has passed from utility to luxury—with prices to match.
See the Full Story →Helderburg featured at duPont Registry. Automotive luxury excellence meets off-roading legacy.
See the Full Story →Helderburg on duPont Registry: Helderburg’s meteoric rise is a testament to Paul’s unwavering commitment to quality, craftsmanship, and his passion for creating something that goes beyond mere vehicles.
See the Full Story →Helderburg featured in The Land Report Magazine... Some think of it as the Out of Africa vehicle; others as the model of choice for the Australian Outback. We think of classic Land Rover Defenders as timeless treasures that are adept motoring over the peaks of the Colorado Rockies, cruising the sandy tracks of the Pine Barrens of Georgia or parked at the Maroon Creek Club in Aspen.
See the Full Story →Helderburg featured in Shooting Sportsman Magazine... Meet Elizabeth. Yes, as the color and make hint, “she” is named in honor of Britain’s queen. The Land Rover Defender, upon which Elizabeth is based, and the Monarch have enjoyed almost equally long reigns, and both could be called classics. But this Elizabeth was disassembled and rebuilt from the gravel up.
See the Full Story →Featured Raleigh, a Father’s Day heirloom with three hundred hours of master hand engraving.
See the Full Story →Covered the unveiling of a bespoke Helderburg Defender 110.
See the Full Story →What people ask about Helderburg.
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Yes. Helderburg was founded in 2020, is designed in Northwest Arkansas, and hand builds each Defender to a single commission. The work carries a five-star owner rating and has been covered by more than sixty publications in twenty-one countries, including The Wall Street Journal, Robb Report, and BBC Top Gear. Many owners are public about their vehicles and are often willing to speak with a prospective buyer before a commission begins. You can read their stories on the owners’ stories page.
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Every Helderburg begins with an original, numbers-matching Defender that grows harder to source each year, then takes thousands of hours of hand work and eight proprietary systems developed in-house. You are not paying for a faster build or a louder engine. You are paying for one that was engineered to be driven every day and kept for generations. Power is not the point, composure is.
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The owners who shopped other builders first tend to answer this best, and many say nothing else compared once they saw and drove one. A Helderburg is numbers-matching, supported for life, and built for the second owner and the third. Worth is personal, but it is built to still be wanted in thirty years rather than replaced in five.
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It is not a restoration and not a restomod, it is a re-engineering. Helderburg keeps the original chassis and the original engine block, so the vehicle stays numbers-matching, then redesigns the systems around them with eight proprietary developments found in no other vehicle. Each one is built for one person, not designed to appeal to others.
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It is supported for life. There is a direct line to the workshop, original parts are kept available, and in the rare case hands-on help is needed, a mechanic is dispatched to the owner rather than the owner driving to a dealership. A Helderburg is engineered for decades of real use, not just for delivery day.
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Numbers-matching classic Defenders are no longer manufactured, and the supply of authentic donor vehicles shrinks every year. A Helderburg is built on a vehicle that cannot be replaced, with proprietary systems found nowhere else, and is rarely seen on the secondary market. It is built to be kept, not flipped.
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Yes. A Helderburg is designed by the founder, Paul Potratz, in Northwest Arkansas and hand built to a single commission, one at a time and never the same vehicle twice. The paint is hand mixed, the metalwork is hand engraved, and the interior is built to the owner. Custom colors are retired permanently once they are used.
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Yes, and most owners begin exactly that way. The first step is a single conversation with no pressure and no pitch, where you can ask anything about the build, the timeline, the cost, or whether a commission is right for you at all. When you are ready, ask a question or begin a commission.
Media inquiries and interviews.
Journalists, editors, and producers are welcome. Helderburg can arrange an interview with the founder, provide high-resolution photography, and coordinate a feature on a current commission. The press kit includes the Helderburg logo, a founder biography, a fact sheet, and approved imagery.
The press found us. The right owners do too.
If the coverage brought you here, the next step is a quiet conversation. No pressure, no pitch, just an honest answer to whatever you want to know.