The 2020 Land Rover Defender was recently launched, and it was well-received by world. The Defender is one of the toughest off-roaders we have seen even in the past. So much so, in fact, that aftermarket companies took it in as their guinea pig and worked on it in various different ways. Here’s one such company called Classic Overland that turned this beast into something extraordinary. The 6x6 Defender is the ultimate off-roader that will conquer anything and everything in its path. But, where will you take this?

2019 Land Rover Defender 6x6 Black Mamba by Classic Overland

Specifications
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  • Model: 2019 Land Rover Defender 6x6 Black Mamba by Classic Overland
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Pros
Cons

Background

Classic Overlands has built some exclusive vehicles to date. All their vehicles cost a bomb to buy, but they make sure the vehicle is built as per customer’s needs. The company’s founder, Stebin Horne, has said previously, "We work with our clients to make sure their customizations create a unique Defender that fits their character and desired utility. All of this with fast turnaround times compared to other full restoration companies operating out of Europe and the USA. We are keenly aware of where our competitors cut corners in the restoration process, and that's why we are a great alternative to the more expensive companies". But, mind you, these vehicles are meant for the uber-rich who can splurge money on vehicles that have no value for money.

Exterior

- Square Protective Grille For The Headlights - Skid Plate Underneath To Protect The Underbody - Square Wheel Arches - All-Terrain Tires - Comes With A Snorkel On The A-Pillar - Spare Tire In The Truck Bed

The front looks as menacing as a vehicle of this magnitude should. The circular headlights, along with the turn signal indicators, are covered by a square protective grille in the front. The grille is basically a rectangle detachable piece that wears a honeycomb mesh design. The front bumper is a short unit, sitting quite high from the ground. The approach angle is excellent. The bumper houses a Warn winch as well as two tow hooks. There is a small cut out here that features two small auxiliary lights. This Defender from Classic Overlands boldly wears the ‘Land Rover’ badge at the tip of the hood. Overall, it looks very boxy and rugged.

Move to the side, and the biggest attraction here is the six-wheel-drive setup. That itself shows you that this is no ordinary Defender. The dual-axle setup at the back is intimidating, and you know this truck means business. The massive off-road tires absolutely suit the personality of the ‘Black Mamba.’ The square wheel arches protrude out a lot, but such is the stature of the vehicle that it looks as though it is sitting almost flush with the body. There are no badges on the sides, but the fenders feature the turn indicator lights. The 6x6 Defender comes with a snorkel on the A-pillar, thus increasing the fording limits to large extents. The outside rearview mirrors are simple, rectangle units that look good but won’t give a good view of the action behind. There is a running board as well, with a bar in between to give it a split look, but it looks like it will cause a hindrance during ingress and egress.

The rear is as simple as it can get. There is nothing fancy about it. You have a tailgate with a few badges on the right and number plate on the left side. The bumper is part of the body itself and comes with a tow hitch as well as a step-up board. The back of the truck is filled with exposed screws. There are no pictures or details of the truck bed, but there is a spare tire in there. A center frame further adds to the butchness.

Interior

- No Pictures Of The Interiors, So All Speculations Listed - Spacious Interiors - Dash-Mounted Instrument Dials - No Electronic Equipment - Single-din Stereo System

Classic Overlands has not revealed any pictures of the cabin, and neither has it revealed any specs. But, going by the exterior looks, it sure wears an old-school interior. The company does mention that the truck can be customized as per the customer’s needs; so, we can surely speculate what the cabin looks like. There will be a lot of space available for the passengers at the front. Space at the rear might not be aplenty. The truck is most probably devoid of any electronic shenanigans. There could be dash-mounted analog dials for the temperature, speedometer, etc. If the company is generous, there could be a single-din stereo system. Could there be a steering-mounted gear lever? There are high chances of that. Apart from this, there will be the drive controls for this big 6x6 vehicle.

Drivetrain

- 3.5-liter, V-8 engine - 430 Horsepower - 425 Pound-feet of Torque - 6x6 Drive Configuration

The Land Rover Defender ‘Black Mamba’ by Classic Overlands comes with a 3.5-liter, V-8 engine that makes 430 horses and 425 pound-feet of torque. Power is not sent two- or four wheels, but to six wheels. Isn’t that what makes this truck really special? The company has given it a lift job as well. The 6x6 setup is generally seen in military vehicles and heavy-duty off-road vehicles. You don’t see it in civilian cars. But, aftermarket tuners like Classic Overlands make these available to the public.

The vehicle was a massive hit, and not long after, the heavy-duty truck was made available to civilians and other militaries around the world. This setup is not necessary when you’re driving it on the tarmac. So, generally, the vehicles drive only on the rear axles, and the front axle is disengaged.

Pricing

The vehicle is certainly not an inexpensive one. You didn’t expect a 6x6 to retail cheap, did you? Classic Overlands has put a price tag of $315,000 for this Black Mamba. Actually, scratch that. It’s $315,000 “onwards.” So, depending on your requirements, the price could actually go a lot higher.

Final Thoughts

This modified Defender is a one-off model, and hence the hefty price tag. The vehicle was retrieved from a firehouse in South Africa. It had clocked a little under 20,000 miles before it was reincarnated with blacked-out exterior and what not. The truck is surely a collector’s edition and doesn’t look like it’ll find buyers anytime soon. The vehicle The South African company restores all the vehicles meticulously. All their builds are full off-chassis restorations with new undercarriage infrastructure, soundproofing, and suspension. The ‘Black Mamba’ looks great, is a rare 6x6 vehicle, but is it worth 300 Grand? That’s for you to decide.

Further Reading

Read our full review on the 2020 Land Rover Defender.

The 2020 Land Rover Defender Has Arrived with New Tricks and Old-School Looks

Read our full review on the 2018 Land Rover Defender.

Read our full review on the 2017 Hennessey VelociRaptor 6X6.