NO PRETENDER

HEIN BURNETT’S DEFENDER IS A PROJECT WITH NO END

- Andrew Middleton

It’s a known fact that for most owners, their Land Rover Defender is a project that’s never finished. There is always something more to add, or some aspect to improve to make it even more unique. Just ask Hein Burnett, owner of the well-known Cape-based 4x4 accessory manufacturer Burnco.

Six years ago he splashed out on the purchase of a 1989 3.9-litre V8 long wheelbase Hardtop, and since then has spent many a spare moment turning it into the ultimate overlander.

It’s used on extended camping trips with his wife Zelda, and every aspect is crafted to make the vehicle self-sufficient – and powerful – to ensure their trips are a breeze and they can tackle whatever comes their way.

To start with, Hein had a few criteria for the ideal 4x4 starting point. It had to be manual, it had to have a petrol engine (preferably a V8), and it must have solid axles.

As standard the Hardtop ticked these boxes, so what more was there to do? Plenty, apparently, as Hein was quick to haul out the old Rover 3.9 and bolt in one of GM’s potent LM7 small-block 5.3-litre V8s, sourced from a Chevy pick-up. With a more adequate 202kW on tap, Hein went searching further down the driveline for improvements.