ECD splurges on walnut wood for its latest Defender restomod

The Defender restoration specialists over at ECD Auto Design have produced a capable and practical restomod called Project Wilder. It debuted with roughly 710 PS (700 hp / 522 kW) under the hood, modern suspension and a deluxe interior trimmed with retro-inspired leather and natural wood.

The stock engine was swapped out for a GM-sourced supercharged V8. The owner asked for a manual transmission and a Borla exhaust system, so the driving experience should be “pure” enough for purists. At the same time, the SUV was upgraded to air-ride suspension and Brembo brakes for improved handling on and off the road.

The body was torn down to the bare chassis, which was cleaned and coated against rust. Once reassembled, it was sprayed in a fresh coat of Eastnor Green with bronze highlights. 20-inch wheels in off-road tires were installed.

Soft brown leather stitched in a hexagonal pattern adorns most of the interior, including new Recaro seats. Walnut wood lining lends it a note of luxury, the ceiling is trimmed with artificial suede, and the steering wheel features a bespoke wooden rim.

As any self-respecting restomod, this off-roader has its share of modern tech on board. The list mentions a Focal audio system, a multimedia system with Apple CarPlay support, power windows and blind spot monitoring, among other things.