Kahn Design brings a modern, hard-edged touch to the term coachbuilt. Established in 1998 as a company specialising in bespoke automobile wheels, the company has gone on to become known for adding their unique spin to some extraordinarily good looking Land Rovers.
The latest fine incarnation is the Flying Huntsman 105 Defender Pickup, decked out in an eye catching satin black finish. The Pickup was revealed on April 26th at the Donington Park Land Rover Show to an enthusiastic public.
The Huntsman Pickup is based on the Land Rover Defender 90, but the extra 15 inches (hence the 105 in the name) comes from Kahn’s now trademark extended front end, giving enough room for V8 power if so desired.
Of course, Land Rover – and the Defender in particular – garners the same sort of purist enthusiasm as the Beetle or Mini, so any company that wants to mess with the traditional aesthetics is potentially asking for trouble – unless you’re called Kahn Design of course.
The company are quite experienced in the Land Rover uprating business now, with the 105 Flying Huntsman Defender Pickup being just one of several incarnations to spring, panther-like, from the Bradford based factory.
The company’s clientele now consists of the likes of Justin Bieber and Katie Price. But don’t let that put you off; these are high end, expensive and lovingly created vehicles.
The Defender Pickup is one of the more conservative Land Rover-based versions from Kahn Design, who have also come up with the V8 powered Land Rover Flying Huntsman 110 WB 6×6, scheduled for display at the Geneva Motor Show. It’s a 6-wheel, 3-axle concept vehicle at the moment, but Kahn say they are working on bringing this, as well as a more traditional 2-axle version, into production.
The company says that they can also supply Kahn Design personalisation options, though nothing will surely quite beat the real thing.
I think my personal favourite of the Kahn Land Rovers is the first in the Flying Huntsman series, the Defender 105 Longnose, featuring of course, an extended front end. While the extended engine bay is necessary to get the V8 engine comfortably fitted, it does definitely do something for the overall look of the vehicle.
Surely inspired by Mad Max, Kahn Design is producing some credible – and incredible – coachbuilt Land Rovers at the moment. Possibly the only thing that might stop you buying one is the price; the Flying Huntsman 105 Defender Pickup will set you back around £60,000, while the Flying Huntsman 110 WB 6×6 will cost around £125,000 – prices as hefty as the vehicles themselves.
Images: autoblog.com and Kahn Design
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