Series 3 Blacked-Out Defender by Cool & Vintage
This Cool & Vintage Defender is a 1979 Land Rover Series 3 reborn as a stealthy, blacked-out restomod. Built by the Portuguese masters of cool at Cool & Vintage, a Lisbon workshop that specializes in Defenders, it takes one of the most iconic off-road SUVs ever made and finishes it head to toe in matte black for a look that is equal parts classic and badass.
How was this blacked-out Defender built?
The team started by restoring the truck back to its glory days, refinishing and brushing clean every piece of slightly rusted metal they could find. They then retrimmed the entire interior in black vinyl and removed all of the chrome to keep the look stealthy. The exterior received the same treatment, finished in a deep matte black. As OPUMO Magazine notes, this is a one-of-a-kind Defender hand built black on black on black, right down to fresh BF Goodrich mud tires.
What is under the hood of the Series 3 Defender?
Style never came at the cost of capability. The blacked-out Defender is powered by a torquey 2.5L diesel, so it keeps the genuine off-roading ability that made the Land Rover Series 3 a legend. For wet days, an equally blacked-out vinyl roof keeps the cabin dry. For anyone who wants to drive something classic and look as cool as possible, it is hard to beat this Defender.
Why the Cool & Vintage Defender stands out
Plenty of shops restore old Land Rovers, but few commit to a single, cohesive vision the way this all-black build does. The result is a vintage SUV that feels modern and menacing without losing its heritage, a rolling reminder of why the Defender remains the benchmark for characterful off-roaders.
Find your own off-road icon at TheArsenale
Love a characterful, blacked-out off-roader? Explore the Petrology x TheArsenale Land Rover Defender 90, the MEV Hummer HX-T off-road SUV, and the Rezvani Retro RR1 750 restomod SUV, or browse the full car collection at TheArsenale.
