Past Commission • Not for Sale

Hermes · A Custom Land Rover Defender D110 A re-engineered classic Defender 110. Featured here as a reference. Not for sale.

A featured past commission. Shown here as a reference for what a Helderburg can be.
The Commission

The Hermes: The Vivid Virtuoso

For those drawn to flamboyant colors and refined luxury, the Hermes is a masterpiece in orange with a mocha brown interior—a “visual symphony.” It’s powered by a similarly performance-tuned 300 TDI Diesel Turbo engine for effortless driving. The interior is upholstered in thick, handwork-embellished Scottish leather, and a 500-watt audio system adds an atmospheric touch to every journey. Hermes positions itself as one of the most individualized and luxurious Defenders available.

The Helderburg “Hermes” is more than a classic Land Rover restored—it’s an achievement in bespoke automotive artistry and technical precision. Helderburg, under the vision of artist Paul Potratz, takes restoration well beyond conventional standards—each build is completely disassembled to bare metal and painstakingly reconstructed piece by piece to achieve what can only be described as perfection.

An Unmatched Restoration Process

Hermes showcases Helderburg’s famous restoration process, which ensures that every classic Defender will remain flawless for generations. Vehicles are stripped to their core before expert craftspeople rebuild them using the highest quality methods and materials. A hallmark feature is the Concours D’elegance paintwork, backed by a unique 75-year warranty—hand-applied in a process that creates a finish that stays wet-looking, deep, and perfectly resistant to corrosion. 

Classic Looks, Modern Comfort

Potratz’s aim is to blend classic Land Rover aesthetics with contemporary comfort and performance. While Hermes retains the timeless silhouettes and charisma of the original Defender, it is engineered to do away with the limitations traditionally associated with vintage vehicles—slow performance, demanding maintenance, and a harsh ride. Owners can expect to feel the welcoming attention a classic draws, but enjoy modern reliability and luxury on the road.​

Bespoke Interior and Color

Hermes is instantly memorable for its vibrant exterior and cozy cabin. The iconic orange paint, paired with a mocha brown roof, is arresting and elegant. Inside, the thick, hand-worked Scottish leather ensures sumptuous comfort, while detailed finishing emphasizes both utility and style. These interiors are engineered to evoke a sense of “Scottish dreamscrape”—luxury and warmth intended for both adventure and relaxation.​

Individualization and Legacy

Helderburg offers over 300 leather choices and more than 120 colors, allowing each client’s personality to shine through the finished vehicle. Hermes is no mere reproduction—it is a legacy piece designed for those who value individuality, heirloom-worthy quality, and extraordinary attention to detail. The restoration is not just about making a vehicle look new; it’s about creating something enduring and deeply personal.​

The Hermes Experience

Driving Hermes means immersing oneself in a world where precision engineering meets art. The performance-tuned 300 TDI diesel turbo engine, combined with a six-speed automatic transmission, ensures a powerful yet smooth drive, whether crossing ranch land or cruising city streets. A high-end 500-watt audio system adds sophistication, making every journey memorable. Clients receive a Defender that is unique, reliable, and inspiring—one that draws admiration wherever it goes.​

Enduring Excellence and Legacy

The Helderburg Hermes redefines what it means to own a classic Land Rover. Impeccable restoration, handcrafted luxury, and modern drivability coalesce in a bespoke creation intended to last; not just as a collector’s piece, but as an ongoing story of adventure and legacy. Owning Hermes means inheriting decades of heritage and innovation, embodied in every stitch and every mile. Read what The Land Report has to say about Hermes.

Every line above is the result of upgrades engineered in-house, found in no other custom or restomod Defender in the world.

See Helderburg's Proprietary Upgrades
The Build Film · From Paul

Paul walks around Hermes the way every Helderburg is meant to be seen.

Step back ten feet. Then twenty. Study the seams. The paint. The exhaust note. The interior. By the end you will know what to look for, and how to compare any custom Defender build.

Hermes build film thumbnail

Filmed at Haldenmere · The Ozarks

Four Styles, One Custom Process

A Helderburg is not one look. It is your own.

Hermes is one direction. Every Helderburg is custom, designed around the owner rather than chosen from a catalogue, and most commissions draw from one or two of these four. The expedition build is the one most people picture first. It is only the beginning of what a custom Defender by Helderburg can be.

Why a Helderburg Drives Differently

The difference is not cosmetic alone.

The architecture itself has been re-engineered. If you want the full picture of what is under a Helderburg before you speak to Paul, two doorways.

The Twelve Systems

Hermes carries twelve proprietary Helderburg systems, found in no other restored, custom or restomod Defender. The drivetrain on the original block. A suspension with the body roll engineered out, widened at the chassis, not with spacers. A cabin built for the eighth hour, not the first.

See Helderburg's Proprietary Upgrades →

Three Approaches. Only one is a Helderburg.

A classic Defender can be restored, restomodded, or re-engineered. A restomod replaces the body and drops in a GM V8 crate motor, no longer numbers matching. Respectfully, a kit car. A Helderburg keeps the original chassis and block, and re-engineers everything else.

What is a Helderburg →
Past Commissions

Every one built once. None of them again.

Hermes is one of many. Each Helderburg is built for a single owner, then never repeated. A few of the commissions that came before.

Films

See more, by the way you like to watch.

More than a hundred films. The drives, the walk-arounds, the honest questions, and the quieter moments. Start wherever you like.

The Drive No Destination, Just the Ozarks
No Destination, Just the Ozarks

A typical Sunday in the Ozarks: no destination, just a Helderburg drive beyond the pavement, where adventure is measured by where you’re willing to go.

The Helderburgs Rocco: The Boldest Helderburg Yet
Rocco: The Boldest Helderburg Yet

Rocco is the moment you realize a classic Defender can be both unapologetically bold and quietly refined.

The Questions Restored Land Rover Defender Review: Sarge
Restored Land Rover Defender Review: Sarge

Take a front-row seat as Paul Potratz, founder of Helderburg, takes you on a spirited test drive of “Sarge”—a fully restored Land Rover Defender 110 that redefines what it means

From Paul Presence | Sundays at Haldenmere
Presence | Sundays at Haldenmere

A single handcrafted Leica lens, one trip to Italy, and a reminder that character outlives perfection. Step inside the story of presence, imperfection, and choosing the few objects that truly matter.

More than one hundred films. All the custom Defender questions answered.

Watch the Films

Hermes stays with the family it was built for.

A few Helderburgs are available now, ready sooner than a full commission. Or begin a commission in Hermes' spirit, with a color of your own.

See the Helderburgs Available Now
A Direct Line to Paul

The next Helderburg will be built around you.

If Hermes stirred something, the next conversation is about your Helderburg. Ask anything, about a build in progress now or a commission of your own. Paul reads every message and answers personally.

Paul Potratz · Founder, Helderburg · Twenty years in automotive marketing · Featured in the Wall Street Journal, Robb Report, Road & Track, Carscoops, and the Collector Car Podcast

Contact Paul Directly