Customized Land Rover Equipped with Cummins Engine Steals the Spotlight as a Premium Overland Vehicle
Going All-Out: Meet the $109K Off-Road Monster
Sometimes, you gotta build a tank. And that's just what Heritage Driven did with this beastly 1987 Land Rover 127, currently sniffing around $109,000 on Bring a Trailer. This ain't no everyday Defender, folks. It's a fully-loaded, no-holds-barred machine that's ready to dominate any terrain with its blazing LED lights guiding the way.
The Roots of a Legend
The 127 stands as the epitome of utility sports vehicles, massive and mighty, outclassing its shorter siblings. This particular specimen crossed the pond from the Netherlands to the U.S. back in 2013, and it didn't take long before Heritage Driven got their grubby, talented hands all over it in 2017.
Powering Up: Cummins on Steroids
At the heart of this mega-build is the Cummins R2.8 turbodiesel engine—a compact, modish powerhouse that's been gaining serious traction in the Defender community. This particular motor flaunts cryogenically cooled internals and a tailor-made tune, transforming the Defender from a small, power-lacking vehicle into a speed demon that's all about responsiveness.
Rugged Transmission and Drivetrain
This bad boy sends its power through a six-speed automatic transmission to a dual-range transfer case with twin-stick operation. Then, Currie axles outfitted withcustom 74Weld portal axles take the wheel. These aren't just for show—they provide insanely high ground clearance while keeping the driveline components compact. Pair that with ARB air lockers up front and rear, and you've got a drivetrain that can handle virtually any terrain thrown its way.
Suspension and Wheels Like a Boss
The suspension setup screams "serious off-road work!" Fox remote-reservoir shocks take care of the damping duties, while a long-arm suspension lift ensures there's plenty of articulation for seriously challenging rock crawls. A PSC steering stabilizer keeps things straight as an arrow, while a detachable sway bar lets the vehicle flex when it needs to. Rolling on 17-inch Hutchinson beadlock wheels wrapped in 40x13.5-inch Pro Comp Xtreme MT2 tires, this 127 has a footprint that floats over sand and claws up rock faces. A central tire inflation system allows you to adjust pressures on the fly without even leaving the cab, a feature that serious overlanders will love.
Exterior: Functionality Rules Supreme
Every exterior tweak has a purpose. The classic Keswick Green paint offers a timeless Land Rover look, while the modifications focus on capability rather than flash. Front and rear winches (Warn units) can yank this vehicle out of any predicament, while the swing-out spare tire carrier keeps the essential fifth wheel close at hand. The Baja Designs LED lighting setup is truly impressive, ensuring you can navigate even the darkest, most unknown terrains in clarity.
Interior: Utility Meets Comfort
Inside, Heritage Driven has impressively blended utility and luxury. The custom-crafted bulkhead adds three extra inches of legroom for the driver and six inches for the passenger, addressing one of the original 127's few shortcomings. High-back Exmoor seats covered in green leather with houndstooth inserts offer the support required for long adventures.
Perks and Electronics Galore
Modern conveniences include an Alpine touchscreen head unit, Vintage Air climate control, and a comprehensive electronics package featuring a Lowrance GPS with FLIR thermal camera, WeBoost cell phone booster, and a CB radio. The sPOD touchscreen display offers a clean, central control center for all the auxiliary lighting and accessories.
Spec Sheet
- Model: 1987 Land Rover 127
- Engine: Cummins R2.8 turbodiesel inline-four (cryogenically treated, custom tune)
- Transmission: Six-speed automatic
- Transfer Case: Dual-range with twin-stick operation
- Axles: Currie axles with custom 74Weld portal axles
- Lockers: ARB air lockers front and rear
- Suspension: Long-arm lift with Fox remote-reservoir shocks
- Wheels: 17' Hutchinson beadlock alloys
- Tires: 40x13.5' Pro Comp Xtreme MT2
- Brakes: Four-wheel disc with R1 Concepts calipers, Wilwood master cylinder
- Paint: Keswick Green
- Interior: Green leather Exmoor seats with houndstooth inserts
- Electronics: Alpine touchscreen, Lowrance GPS with FLIR, sPOD control system
- Odometer: 1,000 miles (post-rebuild)
- Builder: Heritage Driven (Albuquerque, NM)
- Current Bid: $109,000
Pricing & Availability
Currently listed on Bring a Trailer with 5 days left, this beast is offered with a clean Oregon title through dealer consignment. With its current high bid of $109,000, this modified Land Rover 127 is worth every penny to those who take their overlanding seriously.
- The Land Rover 127's exterior, though visually reminiscent of classic Keswick Green, focuses more on functionality with additions like front and rear winches, a swing-out spare tire carrier, and Baja Designs LED lighting setup.
- Blending utility and luxury, the interior boasts custom-crafted Exmoor seats in green leather with houndstooth inserts, providing comfort for long adventures while addressing the original 127's legroom shortcomings.
- The technology upgrade in this overlanding monster includes modern amenities such as an Alpine touchscreen head unit, Vintage Air climate control, a Lowrance GPS with FLIR thermal camera, WeBoost cell phone booster, CB radio, and an sPOD touchscreen display for a clean control center.
