CHANGING TIMES

THE AFTERMARKET COMES TO THE RESCUE AGAIN, THIS TIME CONVERTING THE MANUAL-ONLY DEFENDER INTO AN AUTO COG-SWAPPER.

- DAN EVERETT

FOUR-WHEEL drives are many different things to many different people. For some, they’re rugged, bare-bones weekend warriors. The thrill comes from making do, feeling every rattle and bump, cooking off the tailgate and expertly balancing the clutch and accelerator to negotiate steep hill climbs and swollen river crossings. For others, they’re a tool to get them to the farthest reaches of the country, the stunning red gorges of the Kimberley, or the endless alpine peaks of the High Country. The destination is as much a part of the adventure as the vehicle, so the more comfort you have on the long journey there the better.

We try and show a healthy mix of both in the pages here at 4X4 Australia, and the gear to build either style of vehicle. This time on the inspection block we’ve headed out to Western Sydney-based Davis Performance Landys (DPL) to get up close and personal with its auto-converted Land Rover Defenders. The classic boxy style, live-axle rigs now shift smoother and faster thanks to their wizardy, something that the purists probably turn their nose up at, but has the owners reaching for the keys time and time again.

So what exactly goes in to the conversion, what does it cost, and how smooth is the final product? You’re only a few short pages away from having all the answers.

WHY WOULD YOU DO IT?