Helderburg, a design house dedicated to bespoke, heirloom-grade Land Rover Defenders, announces its latest commission, Vesper. Engineered and handcrafted to Helderburg standards, this Land Rover Defender 110 embodies the union of distinctive design, uncompromising materials, and engineering-led performance. Inspired by a repeat client for use in Big Sky, Montana, Vesper was designed to mirror the owner’s Bentley Flying Spur. The result is a vehicle that feels equally at home navigating a gala valet line as it does hauling mountain gravel through the Rockies. Check out the video story. Hi-res images can be downloaded here.
“When we set out to build Vesper, the goal wasn’t just to make a pretty Defender; it was to capture the soul of a Bentley, that effortless, understated confidence, and marry it to the honesty of a Land Rover,” said Paul Potratz, Founder of Helderburg. “It’s a gentleman’s cruiser that doesn’t mind getting its boots dirty.”
The story of Vesper is rooted in a heritage of hard work. In the late 1990s, the vehicle was owned by Czech architect Lucas Varga, who used the Defender as a literal workhorse to haul stone and timber for a family cottage restoration. Helderburg’s philosophy ensures that this DNA remains intact. Despite its luxurious transformation, Vesper retains its original utility because the rear bay is precision-engineered to accommodate 4×8 sheets of plywood or sheetrock laid flat.
“We love the history of this specific D110. It spent its first life hauling stones for an architect in the Czech Republic,” Potratz noted. “Even though we’ve draped it in Dark Sapphire Blue and Mulliner-style leather, we kept that utility. If the owner needs to head to the hardware store in Big Sky, this truck is still ready to work. It’s a luxury tool, not a museum piece.”
The visual identity of Vesper is defined by its striking Dark Sapphire Blue exterior, which is an exact color match to the Bentley Flying Spur. The paint process is exhaustive as every panel is disassembled and painted individually to ensure a perpetually wet high-gloss finish.
“People always ask, ‘Is it black or is it blue?'” said Potratz. “That’s the magic of this finish. In the shadows of the mountains, it looks ink-black and mysterious. But the moment the Montana sun hits it, you see that deep, rich Bentley blue. It’s a rewarding color that looks different every time you walk up to it.”
Inside, the cabin features Mulliner-style diamond stitching, Helderburg’s signature leather upholstery, and hand-finished billet aluminum jewelry throughout the cabin. The exterior is further distinguished by a Puma-style bonnet featuring hand-cut aluminum cosmetic louvers aligned with surgical precision. Vesper also underwent a complete frame-off rebuild where the chassis was stripped to bare metal and painted in the same Dark Sapphire Blue as the body, a detail visible even under the bonnet.
“At Helderburg, we obsess over the things you do not see,” Potratz explained. “Painting the frame to match the body and using heavier-gauge aluminum panels isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about structural integrity and a level of fit and finish that you can feel the moment you close the door. It sounds and feels solid, like a vault.”
As the second Helderburg build for this specific client, Vesper stands as a testament to the brand’s ability to deliver one-of-one vehicles that satisfy the most discerning collectors. Helderburg specializes in the bespoke restoration of classic Land Rover Defenders by blending traditional craftsmanship with modern luxury to create unique automotive icons tailored to the specific lifestyles of their owners.
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