If you are a Land Rover Defender Classic fan, you will have noticed that over the last few years, more and more of these vehicles are being restored and sold internationally, some changing hands for ludicrous amounts of money. As someone who has traveled the planet and lived in a Defender for more than a decade, I have had the opportunity to become a part of the international Defender community and have had the pleasure of spotting Defenders in the wild from West, Southern, and East Africa to Patagonia, the USA, Europe and the beyond. We have enjoyed hundreds of vehicles from well-maintained “originals” to ground up rebuilds and have learned that, while each vehicle build is unique, not all restorations are equal. South African Pon Steyn 4×4 stands head and shoulders above the rest when restoring Defenders (and older Land Rovers) for domestic use or export.
It was a wet winter’s day back in 2021 when we drove to Pon Steyn 4×4 in Somerset West, a coastal city not too far from Cape Town, South Africa. I must have driven past the workshop a hundred times when we lived in Cape Town (before our global journey), and we always took the time to drool over the exotic overland vehicles parked outside, an inspiring herd of equipped 4×4 vehicles. Usually, there would be a multitude of Land Rovers, from old Series 1’s to classic Defenders; some were awaiting attention, and others were gleaming with new vigor. We stopped by that winter’s day in 2021 to source parts for our Defender (our journey across West Africa had been arduous, to say the least). An hour later, we found ourselves halfway through a tour of the complex; Arno Steyn, the son of Pon Steyn, had been following our journey on social media and took precious time to show us the rebuild process which converts old farm, family, and military Land Rovers into virtually new machines, most heading to new homes and garages internationally.
Pon Steyn Motors (also known as Pon Steyn 4×4) is a family-owned business originally established in 1983 in Somerset West, South Africa under the name Steyn’s Motors. The company has grown from having only two employees to nearly thirty and has, for a good reason, become one of South Africa’s top suppliers of military vehicle spares and Land Rover spares, services, and restored vehicles. In 2010 Arno Steyn joined the company as a part of the management team. He is currently responsible for running one of the two divisions in the company (and is building a 6×6 Defender for his own world overland tour).
The restored vehicles become magnificent as each enjoys a ground up rebuild; every nut and bolt is new and checked by the management team, each with an individual paint marker. A complete rebuild process may include a galvanized frame, a full-body shell repaint, engine rebuilds to factory standards or engine replacement or upgrades, complete brake and suspension upgrades and rebuilds, interior re-trims and upgrades, suspension and axle rebuilds or replacement, new or rebuilt transmissions and upgrades and new style bulkheads and doors.
Full restorations are not the only option for clients; you could also simply have the vehicle repaired to road worthy and given a new lick of paint.
Arno walked us through the workshop and showed us how every single element of the rebuild process is done in-house. Land Rovers are sourced from around Southern Africa and shipped to the Western Cape workshop. There the vehicle is assessed and the restoration planned, usually in consultation with the client. With decades of experience in the maintenance and repair of Land Rovers, the Pon Steyn team knows what works and what does not; they understand the capabilities and limitations of the vehicle and know how exactly to build a vehicle renowned for being temperamental into a reliable and silky smooth machine. This experience cannot be under-valued, Land Rovers have particular strengths and weaknesses, and often one significant modification can result in a chain effect which significantly reduces or improves a vehicle’s reliability and dependability.
As expected, it takes a while for the vehicle to be stripped and rebuilt systematically, but the end result is worth the wait. Our old Defender looked battered and bruised after her years of travel across the planet, but no worse than some vehicles which arrive at Pon Steyn 4×4 needing love and attention and leave the workshop looking and driving better than when it had rolled off the South African production line (in 1992 the Blackheath factory in the Cape Province was identified as the largest Land Rover CKD (knock down kit) assembly location outside the United Kingdom).
The interior is brought back to life upon a glistening frame and restored body, sound deadening and carpets are installed, the seats and dashboard are replaced or repaired and wrapped in luxurious leather, and the headliner receives the same treatment. A fresh, new electrical loom powers all controls and desired accessories. The Achilles Heel of all old Land Rovers is the electrical system, and Lucas, the Land Rover electrical parts supplier, is referred to by any true Land Rover aficionado as Lucas – the Prince of Darkness. If Lucas made guns, wars would not start, and it is rumored that Lucas holds the patent for the short circuit.
Arno informed us that the majority of the vehicles which they restore are shipped to the USA, and they are doing their best to keep up with the demand. Since 25-year-old Land Rovers, and Defenders, in particular, have become eligible for legal import to the US, there has been a great opportunity for reputable companies to supply customized vehicles to the market. A buyer can dictate exactly which modifications they desire, and Pon Steyn will facilitate the entire process – from sourcing a vehicle to its precise restoration and then the door-to-door export and importation process. Arno and his team have been exporting vehicles to the USA since 2016 and have established an excellent reputation as a reliable and credible supplier of legal vehicles to the US and other markets.
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