British Mud Buds: Matching Land Rover D90 Twins

When it comes to restoring classic Land Rovers, nobody does it quite like E.C.D. Automotive Design. Take the convertible Land Rover D90 for instance. A tremendous vehicle platform that is ripe for modification and personalization. That is what two best friends did with E.C.D. Meticulously designed, these LS3-powered off-road autos were painstakingly hand-built by a team of 63 specialized technicians and master-certified ASE craftsmen.

Codenamed “Project 67” and “Project Flamingo,” these resto-mod Defenders may appear like fraternal twins. But take a glimpse at their interiors, and you’ll see some seriously different bespoke cabin appointments. These two Land Rover D90s may appear simple, but they were built that way according to the client’s specifications. E.C.D. can build tastefully or as exotic as anyone desires.

E.C.D. D90 Defenders

Same, Same… But Different…

At first glance, both of these trucks appear to be copies of one another. Both sport a classic “Keswick Green” eggshell finish, black canvas soft tops, 16-inch steelies, identical bumpers, brush guards, EBC Fast Brakes, and dual port Borla exhausts systems out back. Even the round LED roof lights and lug nuts are the same.

From a chassis and ride perspective, both Defenders are of the same base model grade, and come outfitted with the same E.C.D. air suspension kit. Both LS3 American V8 engine swaps and matching 6-speed auto transmissions are of the same build too. Which from a performance point, have only received mild bolt-on modifications upon being rebuilt.

The wildly different interiors showcase the wide range of options our clients can choose to make their dream one-of-one truck. Project 67 leans into the old-school feel of Defenders with black All American Tradition gauges, while Project Flamingo has a modern audio system that would satisfy even the pickiest of road trip DJs. —Scott Wallace, E.C.D. Co-Founder

Bespoke leather upholstered interiors. They're not just meant for Rolls Royce owners anymore...

But that’s about where the similarities stop. For each E.C.D. D90 comes with its own list of specified interior enhancements.

On Project 67, a Momo “Prototipo” steering wheel was installed after being wrapped in the same Cadence Moon Rock leather as the seats and upholstery. In contrast, Project Flamingo comes loaded with a shade of Cadence leather called “Lentil.” Which looks stellar in contrast to the Nardi “Challenge” steering wheel.

Being that both vehicles are large enough to haul additional passengers in the back, E.C.D. installed seating in each cargo hold.

Whereas Project Flamingo’s load area consists of a bench and two jump seats, whereas the other rocks benches on both sides. Project 67’s tech is fairly straightforward, with a 110 V outlet, three USB ports, a Kenwood eXcelon touchscreen, and JBL speakers being the most notable. Project Flamingo utilizes much of the same, but defers to a more potent JL sound system for its off-road tunes.

Land Rover D90: Project 67

E.C.D. D90 Defender

Project 67 General Specifications

  • Model — Defender 90
  • Engine — GM LS3
  • Transmission — 6-Speed Automatic
  • Axles — Stock
  • Suspension — E.C.D. Air Ride
  • Brakes — EBC Fast Brakes
  • Exhaust — Borla Sport Dual Exhaust with one pipe on each side

Exterior

  • Paint Color — Keswick Green in Eggshell Finish
  • Soft Top — Black Canvas
  • Wheels — 16” deep dish in black with black lug nuts
  • Tires — BF Goodrich All Terrain
  • Grille — Mesh
  • Bumper — Classic with daylight running lights and brush guard
  • Additional Features — 4 LED round spotlights, soft top multi-point roll cage, Warn winch

Interior

  • Seat Layout — 2 4
  • Front Seats — Exmoor Modular Trim, Heated and Ventilated
  • Load Area Seats — 2 Inward Facing Benches
  • Leather Color — Cadence Moon Rock
  • Seat Design — Horizontal Single Stitch
  • Dash – Puma wrapped in Cadence Moon Rock Leather
  • Carpet — Black
  • Steering Wheel — MOMO PROTOTIPO wrapped in Cadence Moon Rock leather
  • Gauges — All American Tradition
  • Additional Features — Rear air conditioning

Audio & Electronics

  • Infotainment — Touchscreen Kenwood eXcelon
  • Sound System — JL Audio speakers and JBL subwoofer
  • Additional Features — Wireless charger, 3 USB ports, 110 V outlet, backup camera, blind spot assistance

Land Rover D90: Project Flamingo

E.C.D. D90 Defender

Project Flamingo General Specifications

  • Model — Defender 90
  • Engine — GM LS3
  • Transmission — 6-Speed Automatic
  • Axles — Stock
  • Suspension — E.C.D. Air Ride
  • Brakes — EBC Fast Brakes
  • Exhaust — Borla Sport Dual Exhaust with one pipe on each side

Exterior

  • Paint Color — Keswick Green in Eggshell Finish
  • Soft Top — Black Canvas
  • Wheels — 16” deep dish in black with black lug nuts
  • Tires — BF Goodrich All Terrain
  • Grille — Classic
  • Bumper — Classic with daylight running lights and brush guard
  • Additional Features — 4 LED round spotlights, soft top multi-point roll cage

Interior

  • Seat Layout — 2 4
  • Front Seats — Exmoor Modular Trim, Heated and Ventilated
  • Load Area Seats — 1 Inward Facing Bench and 2 Inward Facing Jump Seats
  • Leather Color — Cadence Lentil
  • Seat Design — Horizontal Single Stitch
  • Dash – Puma wrapped in Cadence Lentil Leather
  • Carpet — Black
  • Steering Wheel — Nardi Challenge wrapped in Cadence Lentil leather
  • Gauges — All American Tradition
  • Additional Features — Cupholders

Audio & Electronics

  • Infotainment — Touchscreen Kenwood eXcelon
  • Sound System — JL Audio speakers and subwoofer
  • Additional Features — CarPlay, Bluetooth, 3 USB ports, backup camera, blind spot assistance

E.C.D. D90 Defender

Are You Down With E.C.D.?

Founded in 2013 by a trio of British  classic car enthusiasts,  E.C.D. Automotive Design (E.C.D.) has set the standard for one-off vintage British vehicle builds. Today, E.C.D. is recognized as the world’s largest Land Rover restoration company, with classic Defenders like these two green machines pictured above serving as a prime example.

Regardless of what vehicle is being built at the moment, E.C.D. continuously strives to “combine classic English beauty with modern performance.” Additionally, each vehicle produced by E.C.D. is tailored to the wishes of the client.

Much of the time, this process begins back in the U.K. There, E.C.D.’s logistics center sources the ideal donor vehicle for the client’s needs and then ships the vehicle back to the U.S. for restoration. Thus insuring that every step of the process is handled in-house by the E.C.D. team, and eliminating any concerns over quality control.

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About the author

Micah Wright

Raised on LEGOs by grandfathers who insisted on fixing everything themselves, Micah has been a petrolhead in training since age four. His favorite past times include craft beer, strong cigars, fast cars, and culinary creativity in all of its forms.
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