Some restomod builds sacrifice function for finish. Vesper takes a different path. This D110 commission, completed for a Big Sky, Montana client, carries Bentley-inspired color and tailored appointments while retaining the cargo space and capability that made the Defender 110 a work-truck icon.
Built for Presence and Purpose
The longer wheelbase of the D110 provides practical advantages: room for passengers, gear, and cargo. Helderburg engineered Vesper’s rear compartment to accommodate 4×8 sheets of building materials lying flat, preserving the platform’s original utility. This is not customization—this is curation, designed to endure.
Vesper receives Helderburg’s Mark 3.5 turbo-diesel engine, tuned for torque and refined response suited to mountain grades and remote property access. The frame-off rebuild includes heavier-gauge aluminum panels, a Puma-style bonnet, and hand-cut louvers, with the chassis painted to match the body.
“When we set out to build Vesper, the goal wasn’t just to make a pretty Defender; it was to capture the soul of a Bentley, that effortless, understated confidence, and marry it to the honesty of a Land Rover.”
— Paul Potratz, Founder of Helderburg
Bentley Cues, Defender DNA
Inside, Mulliner-style diamond stitching and billet aluminum trim echo the owner’s Bentley Flying Spur. The cabin remains upright and purposeful, but materials bring grand-touring refinement to a work-truck foundation.
Dark Sapphire Blue paint, matched to the Flying Spur, shifts from near-black in shadow to deep blue in sunlight. Each panel was removed and painted individually before reassembly for consistent finish across seams.
From Czech Architect to Montana Mountains
This Defender first served Czech architect Lucas Varga in the late 1990s, hauling stone and timber during cottage restoration work. That working history gives Vesper authentic character before transformation.
This commission feels settled: refined enough for a luxury lodge, grounded by the utility and honest capability that define the Defender platform. Read the full feature on OffRoadXtreme.
