Behold the Twisted Range Rover Classic
Enough with the Defenders already - how about a 500hp Range Rover rework?
Much as with the Porsche 911 and Ford Mustang, it can often seem like there are more modified Range Rovers around than standard Classics. With good reason, too: all three are timelessly great-looking, while benefitting substantially from some sympathetic modernisation - you may have heard about the fashion for it. Now, Twisted is jumping on the bandwagon; having brought the best out of Defenders for many years, this is its first take on the Range Rover Classic. Yep, the one seen at Bicester last year is now ready for customer approval. (As if it wasn’t tricky enough already, what with the Kingsleys and Overfinchs of the world, deciding on which £350k Rangey restomod to go for…)
Given its rivals, and given founder Charles Fawcett’s family had a Classic when he was growing up, it is a surprise this hasn’t happened sooner. He said of that car (see the pic below): "It was terracotta brown with fibreglass extended wheel arches and white Weller eight-spoke wheels shod with General Grabber road-oriented tyres. On the front, he’d (his dad) fabricated a valance out of an MGB GT front spoiler. To me, it was just iconic. Today, the TRRC exists out of unapologetic nostalgia, recreating something I remember from when I was a tiny boy. I think many customers will relate to that feeling.”
And we all know how powerful a pull nostalgia can be - especially when it looks this good. Even with the Range Rover as recognisable as it is, and even with plenty of reimaginations out there, there’s something pretty special about this TRRC. All are going to be built from 1990-92 era machines, with left- or right-hand drive offered; the stripped, blasted, protected and restored chassis and unique panels (see those rolled arches to better house larger wheels) are fronted by a '70s bumper with a '90s grille, a nice mix of the Classic eras. There’s some rake to the ride height now, lower on the front axle ‘to suit the Classic’s profile’ and the wheels are properly filling the arches. It’s the Twisted hot rod aesthetic we’ve become used to with Defenders, very successfully transplanted onto the RR.
Speaking of hot rods, the TRRC is powered by the Chevy LT1 V8, here with the 6.2 churning out 500hp. It’s hooked up to an eight-speed auto, and is marshalled by upgraded diffs, proper brakes (with six-piston front calipers) plus a total overhaul of the spring, dampers and bushes. "We spent an age tweaking the bushings so that you got something that was sharp and super drivable but not too harsh," says the boss. "A Range Rover needs to be supple.” There isn’t much mentioned about off-road ability because, to be frank, if you’re spending £300k on a Classic restomod you’ll have a dedicated 4x4 as well. This is for cruising around, looking great, and feeling even better. Old Range Rovers do have a habit of making everything seem alright.
Certainly Twisted’s reworking of the interior will put anyone in a good frame of mind, with the usual modernisation touches - heated seats, better infotainment, air con that works - alongside some more subtle, equally effective changes. So the seats have been dropped to further improve visibility, the soundproofing is attached to the carpet rather than the shell (so the paint can still be seen) and the cabin is fully sealed to better refinement. Somehow, the TRRC makes yellow paint with tan leather look quite good.
Should that not be the colour combo for you, obviously all of these Range Rovers are as customisable as any other Twisted commission; that extends even down to the C-pillar, where the floating roof look can be kept or painted body colour ‘to accentuate the two-door silhouette’. When you’re paying £350,000, you can certainly be a customer that’s always right in matters of taste. It seems the asking price hasn’t put many off, with all of the 2026 build slots spoken for and 2027 filling up (up to 12 TRRCs will be built per year, all two-doors). As Fawcett puts it: “The Range Rover Classic is a British icon. It’s not for everyone, and that’s the point. As with all Twisted products, not everyone will want one and of those that do, not everyone will get one.” It’s hard to imagine the fortunate few dozen being anything less than very happy indeed. And for those with more modest budgets but a hankering for V8-powered Twisted expertise, look at this Defender - almost £80k spent in 2021, now for sale at £49,990.
A Range Rover Classic in 2 door or 4 door form still turning heads nowadays, mainly, I imagine due to its iconic shape and possibly also due to rarity compared to the equivalent Series/Defender. A lot more comfortable than the Series/Defender and just as capable.
Are we going to see prices of RRC climbing? A late hard dash 4-door in standard Vogue SE wheelbase would be my pick.
90s grill with the late 70s bumper and the horrible chin extension and cheap looking led headlights look like something done in someone’s shed in the 90s to update an earlier one.
Wonder what the hourly labour rate is to get to £350k + given how much a crate engine is.
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