Off-road muscle meets luxury

FOR those of us old enough to remember, the original Land Rover Defender 130 was an extra-long wheelbase double-cab bakkie, much loved by outdoor enthusiasts and was considered by many as one of the best overlanding vehicles ever made.

- Willem van de Putte [e-mail]

Built on a 130-inch ladder chassis (hence the name 130), it was the ideal vehicle to set up and kit for extended expeditions, with the large load bay providing the ideal platform to make a home away from home.

The original 130 bakkie has been shelved in the annals of history with the introduction of the “new” Defender, but the 130 nomenclature remains with a monocoque chassis in a luxury-wrapped package.

Make no mistake, it’s still extremely capable with its modern comforts and high-end technology, as I experienced over a couple of days last year with Kingsley and Ross Holgate in Botswana and Namibia.

Upgraded engine

The legendary explorers use them through some of the harshest territory in Africa and have managed to bring them back every time without any major catastrophes or breakdowns.

It recently received an engine transplant with the introduction of the D350 3.0-litre six-cylinder twin-turbo diesel plant with 257kW (36kW more than the D300 it replaced) and 700Nm (SONm more). It still uses the same eight-speed automatic transmission, driving all four wheels.

Exterior and interior