Land Rover's decision to discontinue the classic Defender after nearly 70 years not only led to the creation of the Ineos Grenadier but also presented an incredible investment opportunity for Charles R. Fawcett, owner of Twisted Automotive. Founded in 2000, the North Yorkshire-based company customizes and modifies around 100 Defenders annually.
Anticipating the iconic Defender's demise and replacement with a new model, Fawcett made a bold move in 2015. He ordered 240 Defenders, believing he could customize them and sell them at a premium.
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Part of Twisted's 240-Defender stockpile. Photo: Twisted |
Part of Twisted's 240-Defender stockpile. Photo: Twisted
Lacking the funds to purchase all 240 Defenders outright, Fawcett leveraged a strong relationship with Land Rover to secure a deal where he would pay upon delivery. He also negotiated a 14.8% discount for the bulk order, bringing the price per vehicle to around £22,600 (USD 30,600), totaling £5,424,000 (USD 7.3 million).
While Twisted could have resold the Defenders as-is for a profit, Fawcett opted to customize and overhaul each one, catering to the booming restoration market.
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A customized 2016 Defender, already sold. Photo: Twisted |
A customized 2016 Defender, already sold. Photo: Twisted
Initially, Twisted's modified Defenders sold for between £70,000 and £90,000 (USD 95,000-122,000). Now, Fawcett says they typically fetch between £180,000 and £320,000 (USD 244,000-433,000).
"We've put 1,500 hours into each vehicle. That's 1,500 hours using parts, components, and processes developed over 25 years," Fawcett told LADbible.
He added that having this inventory has fueled the company's growth in the 9 years since Defender production ceased. "And in those 9 years, we've achieved over £50 million in sales."
"There are only 25 left. I'll be sad to see them go, but I'll keep a few for myself," Fawcett said.
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