Jeffrey AronsonThese are heady times to own a Series Land Rover or Defender L316.
Back in the era of landline telephones and broadcast television, engine options to keep your Land Rover on the road centered around Chevrolet six-cylinder gas or Mercedes diesel engines. In the UK, enthusiasts turned to Perkins, Iveco or Isuzu diesels (like the Australian Perentie).
In these times of cellphones and streaming services, companies have invested significant engineering talent into developing EV, diesel or gasoline engines and drivetrains for your Land Rover.
Michael “Mick” Simon grew up in the UK and enjoyed rebuilding Series IIAs. Returning to the US, he began working for Ford and now heads up Ford Performance Parts. He shares a passion to “support the people who fulfill their automotive dreams,” and as a Land Rover
enthusiast, “I see real applicability of our talents and knowledge for repowering Land Rovers.” With his powertrain calibration background, Mick is deeply interested in ‘helping adapt Ford Performance engines, transmissions and PTMs [powertrain modules] to enhance the driving
of Land Rover Series/Defenders for today’s on-road and off-road experiences.”
Ex-pat Andrew Whittam has partnered with Electrongenics, a UK EV conversion company focused on repowering classic vehicles. As he wrote, “I can give them a heart of ultra-modern technology. You have all the pleasure of operating a beautiful classic vehicle without the aggravation; you just turn the key, drive, and enjoy the view.”
Whether you prefer to install these new powertrains on your own, or have a professional installation, as an enthusiast, you now have an ever-wider range of options for your beloved vehicles. There’s significant engineering talent behind these ventures, and we consider them all to be Fabulously British.