Tray-Mendous!

What? Take a double-cab 110 and chop it into a trayback? How’s that going to work? Brilliantly, as it turns out – just ask Jerry Thurston

If you could design and build your dream Land Rover, what would it look like? The amazing 110 I’ve come to see today is the result of such a collaboration between owner George Bamford and off-road specialist Devon 4x4.

By day, George runs a company that serves the needs of the man who has everything, producing customised high-end products ranging from Rolex watches to Bentleys. And, now... a unique Defender. Well, why not?

Think George’s surname sounds familiar? Yes, he’s the son of Sir Anthony Bamford, chairman of yellow digger giant JCB. He’s also a genuine Land Rover man, as a quick glance into Bamford’s garages as we walk towards this 110 trayback reveals – I count at least three, including another Defender, a Forward Control and a very nice Series IIA Lightweight.

If you know Land Rovers, Devon 4x4 needs little introduction, and the company’s involvement came via the recommendation of Chris Brown, who could perhaps be described as George Bamford’s ‘automotive PA’. Chris happens to be a proper Land Rover bloke, too.

‘Initially, we met up with Chris and went through numerous concepts and ideas,’ explains

Devon 4x4’s Simon Buck. ‘Between us, we created a shortlist that was presented to George. The doublecab trayback arrangement was chosen due to the flexibility of four doors and five seats.

‘With the basic spec outlined we set about building a very competent off-roader with a touch of Dakar about it, hence the twin spare wheels.’

It’s nice to know that, despite having the means to build a dream truck, they haven’t gone completely over the top: for one thing, the base vehicle is a lowmileage 2013 Defender 110 TDCi 2.2 bought at auction.

I don’t mind confessing that I wasn’t convinced that a trayback double-cab 110 would work. But how wrong was I? It is mindblowingly good.