A restored Land Rover Defender 90, finished in 2024
Blue Jay | Marine Blue D90 Beach Soft Top
About the Build
Blue Jay
This Defender 90, known to us as Blue Jay, was commissioned for a customer who wanted a soft top Beach build with the look of a true classic Land Rover Defender and the relaxed drive of an automatic. A coastal everyday driver, finished with character.
The drivetrain was specified with a GM LS3 6.2 V8 paired to an automatic transmission, the Shoreline Dynamic Ride suspension upgrade, and the Shoreline big brake kit. The result is a Defender 90 with effortless highway pickup and a smooth, easy drive.
The body was finished in Marine Blue, paired with a Sand canvas soft top, painted half doors, and 16-inch deep dish steel wheels in Cream on Cooper STT Pro tires. A Heritage style front grille, body color wide arches, silver Optimill aluminum trim, and a galvanized bumper with driving lights finish the exterior. Steel wheels, not alloys. Beach by feel, classic by design.
Inside, the cabin was built around mixing leather and tweed. Brown leather with Vintage Arthur Tweed accents across the front classic single-post seats, four folding individual rear seats, and the cubby box, all finished with contrast stitching that ties the materials together. Full extended Brown leather covers the dashboard, doors, and gaiters. A teak load bay finishes the rear. A removable wood steering wheel, custom Shoreline gauges in cream, and a removable Marshall Bluetooth speaker integrated with charging keep the interior simple, intentional, and full of character.
A Beach build for the customer who wants something with personality.
LS3 6.2 V8 Drivetrain
GM LS3 6.2 V8 engine swap, automatic transmission, Shoreline Dynamic Ride suspension, and the Shoreline big brake kit. Built for effortless highway pickup and an easy, refined drive.
Open-Air By Design
Sand canvas soft top, galvanized duty hoop and stick set, painted half doors, Heritage style front grille, body color wide arches, and 16-inch deep dish steel wheels in Cream on Cooper STT Pro tires. The Defender as it was meant to be driven.
Leather And Tweed Interior
Brown leather with Vintage Arthur Tweed across the seats and cubby box. Full extended leather throughout the dashboard, doors, and gaiters. Teak load bay flooring. Removable wood steering wheel. Integrated removable Marshall Bluetooth speaker with charging.
Build Specification
Exterior & Mechanical
- GM LS3 6.2 V8 engine swap
- Automatic transmission
- Shoreline Dynamic Ride suspension upgrade
- Shoreline big brake kit
- 16 x 8 deep dish steel wheels in Cream (set of 5)
- Cooper STT Pro tires
- Galvanized duty soft top hoop and stick set
- Sand canvas soft top
- Body color wide arches
- Painted half doors (painted on inside)
- Galvanized bumper with driving lights
- Heritage style front grille
- Full LED headlight and lighting upgrade
- Optimill aluminum hinge, handle, mirror, and parts upgrade in silver
- Folding side steps
- NAS style rear step
- Genuine front and rear mud flaps
- "DEFENDER" hood lettering in silver
- Genuine Land Rover badging
- Half rear door, side-mounted, with black swinging rear wheel carrier
Interior
- Brown leather and Vintage Arthur Tweed front classic single-post seats with no headrest and contrast stitching
- Four folding individual rear seats in Brown leather and Vintage Arthur Tweed
- Full extended Brown leather interior covering dashboard, doors, and gaiters
- Brown leather and tweed cubby box matching interior stitch pattern
- Integrated, removable large Marshall Bluetooth speaker with charging
- Leather sun visors
- Full interior aluminum pack including alloy gear handle, transfer handle, and parking brake handle
- Removable wood steering wheel
- Custom Shoreline gauge pack in cream with silver and galvanized trim
- Black bulkhead bar wrapped in leather (bulkhead removal)
- Teak load bay flooring
- Black front mat set and rubber seat box matting
- Front air conditioning
- Stage one soundproofing
- Rear seat belts for individual seats
- Starter motor immobilizer switch
Vehicle Details
A ground-up rebuild delivering a defining example of the Beach Defender, completed in 2024.
Base Information
- Make: Land Rover
- Model: Defender 90
- Edition: Beach
- Donor Year: 1985
- Year of Rebuild: 2024
Configuration
- Body Type: 90 Soft Top
- Seat Setup: 2 Front, 4 Individual Rear
- Powertrain: GM LS3 6.2 V8
- Transmission: Automatic
- Air Conditioning: Yes, Front
Aesthetics
- Body Color: Marine Blue
- Exterior Trim: Silver Aluminum, Sand Soft Top
- Interior: Brown Leather and Vintage Arthur Tweed
- Wheels: 16 x 8 Deep Dish Steel, Cream
- Tires: Cooper STT Pro
Contact Us
Commission your own Beach Defender
This Defender 90 was built to one customer's specification. Yours can be too. Tell us how you want it to look, how you want it to drive, and the rest follows.
