- Four-year-old Land Rover fan gets Defender replica bed
- Handcrafted bed built by Western Cape-based Artisan Joinery
- Bed features real tyres, lights, wheel arches, door hinges and badging
Pretoria, 6 April 2017 – One dedicated Land Rover fan’s dreams have come true, in the shape of a Land Rover Defender bed for their young son. The bed has been made to replicate the Defender used in a James Bond film, and even uses original Defender components for an added touch of authenticity.
The bed was designed, built and finished by Artisan Joinery, a bespoke furniture company based in George, Western Cape. Following a brief from a customer to create the ultimate boyhood dream bed, the team at Artisan Joinery drew inspiration from the 2015 James Bond film, SPECTRE, which starred a customised Land Rover Defender prepared by Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations.
“The customer was already a Land Rover enthusiast and a huge fan of the Defender, so it was an easy choice when it came to choosing the theme for their son’s car-themed bedroom”, said Terry Ryan, the owner of Artisan Joinery. “Various options were discussed, including an old Defender on a beach, as well as a new Defender in one of the heritage colours. The SPECTRE Defender was suggested after we watched the latest Bond film – and that’s the one the client chose.”
Artisan Joinery used 16mm medium density fibreboard (MDF) to recreate the bed as a Defender 90 replica. Thanks to this lightweight wood construction it tips the scales at only 600kg. A new process was developed to bend and form the MDF for the complex surfaces on the bonnet – which prominently features iconic Defender badging.
Every Land Rover offers drivers practicality, and the Defender bed is no different. Its interior features an extra-length queen-size mattress for class-leading legroom. The roof rack can also be converted into a three-quarter size bed for the last word in versatility when it comes to sleepovers or bedroom camping. These multiple sleeping configurations are made possible through the use of innovative, side-mounted steel ladders that aid ease of access.
Land Rover’s legendary off-road capability has also been retained, through the fitment of mud-terrain tyres. Should the need ever arise to conquer carpeted surfaces the Defender bed will be up to the challenge. Similarly, excursions down dark passages are made possible with the inclusion of original Land Rover Defender headlights and indicators. Additionally, a set of high-intensity LED spotlights has been fitted to the roof rack to ensure excellent night-time visibility. While original Defenders were available with a range of petrol and diesel engines, the Defender bed is fully electric thanks to the fitment 220-volt wall socket, which powers the lighting system.
“The Defender is an icon that transcends motoring to become part of modern culture. It’s absolutely fantastic to see our fans going to these lengths to celebrate its heritage,” said Lisa Mallet, Marketing Director of Jaguar Land Rover South Africa and sub-Sahara Africa. “We commend the team at Artisan Joinery for their excellent efforts in recreating the Defender as a bed, for what will no doubt be a life-long Land Rover fan.”
This is the first Land Rover Defender bed that Artisan Joinery has built. With a production time of six weeks, pricing is available on request. International queries have already arrived from as far afield as the UK and Dubai.
