Some restomods sell you chrome and nostalgia. The Oshe Zambezi Defender sells you a story: African art and British engineering in one, with the deep bass of an eight-cylinder and the feeling that you just parked in a gallery.
For Oshe Automotive stands David Lane – a child of the South African bush, where Land Rovers meant the difference between civilization and “what just screamed in the dark.” First serious project? His father’s Series 2A, who turned a garage apprentice into an obsessed perfectionist and paved the way for his own Defender The company operates today in Northamptonshire in England, but the DNA remains firmly African. This time – Oshe Zambezi Defender.
"Versatile, adventurous and badass to boot." This is how Oshe describes Zambezi. It's not a marketing ploy - more of a programmatic statement.
Engineering as sculpture: stripped down to bare metal
The Zambezi originates from Defender 110, disassembled down to the last screw and reassembled – without visible rivets, slots and industrial holes. On the one hand, Oshe talks about "over 2,000 hours" works; some media outlets state "about 3,000 hours" for a single instance. In both cases, it is a manual marathon, not a serial sprint.
Something interesting is happening under the sheet metal: 6.2-liter (6.2 liters ≈ 378 cu in) V8 or optional 5.3-liter (323 cu in), connected to 8-speed automatic transmission. Oshe doesn't officially reveal power and torque, but hints at "more than enough torque" and a sound that needs no translation. Chassis? Tractive with electronic control, brakes AP Racing, 18-inch (457 mm) steel wheels with BFGoodrich KO2.
Cabin: between the safari lodge and the London club
The interior is a mix of tactile luxury and craftsmanship: heated Muirhead leather seats, Alcantara on the ceiling, panoramic roof, and Audison & Morel hi-fi. A special signature is hand-painted motif in Ndebele style on the control panel, work by the resident artist Anne Selomo on Osheeva reservations in LimpopoWood? Acacia and zebranothat the cabin breathes warmth and life – far from sterile "british luxury".
For practical hedonists, here are the details: electric side steps with puddle lights, wireless charging, refrigerator in the center console, electric parking brake, F1-inspired wiring harnesses and LED/HID This is not an exaggeration; it is a consistent story of comfort and robustness.
Boutique because it's personal
Everyone Zambezi is different: double-cab pickup or station wagon, soft or hard roof, colors, leather, wood – everything is configurable. Due to thousands of hours of manual work, the annual capacity is negligible; this is a product for customers who want conversation with creators, not a catalog.
Not just for salons: a role at Silverstone
He showed that Zambezi is not just a beauty for Instagram Silverstone Festival 2025, where he played the role official "course car" – that is, working, not posing. This is great proof that aesthetics and function are not mutually exclusive when the foundation is done correctly.
Technical highlights (verified)
- Basis: Land Rover Defender 110 (classic chassis).
- Engine: 6.2-liter V8 (DI) or 5.3-liter V8 (DI); 8-speed automatic. (6.2 l ≈ 378 cu in, 5.3 liters ≈ 323 cu in).
- Chassis: Tractive electronically controlled suspension; AP Racing brakes.
- Wheels/Tires: 18″ steel (457 mm); BFGoodrich KO2.
- Lighting: LED/HID; electric stairs with floor lighting.
- Interior: Muirhead leather, Alcantara, panoramic roof, Audison & Morel audio, African woods (acacia, zebrano), Ndebele art Anne Selomo.
- Wiring: improved style wiring harnesses F1.
- Production time: via 2,000 hours (some sources report ≈3,000 hours).
- Acceleration/final speed: officially unpublished (focus is on character and field skills).
Price and availability
Rarity has a price. Zambezi costs a little over £220,000 (around 300,000 USD), and the configuration is created in direct dialogue between the customer and the team in Northamptonshire. Comes in pickup or station wagon form, with the possibility soft or hard roofs.
Why "Oshe"?
Name Oshe is – according to the founder’s story – related to the “African god of thunder”. The symbolism is not accidental: the vehicles are muscular, but cultured; loud, but with taste. Perhaps this is the best summary of their philosophy.
Conclusion: Oshe Zambezi Defender
Oshe Zambezi Defender is not another restomod boasting dynamometers and alcantara on every corner. It is cultural dialogue: South African iconography Ndebele, wood acacias and zebra, and British engineering rigor that takes the Defender off its military belt and puts it in a tuxedo. If you're looking for a raw 0-100 km/h number, the Zambezi will remain a mystery. But if you're looking for identity, you get a vehicle that is also field tool and mobile gallery – proof that you can afford to be rugged and refined in the same breath. Price starting just above £220.000, is not low, but for such a level of personalization, handwork and story that permeates every stitch, it is almost logical. After a brief contact with Silverstone and long nights at the workbench, it is clear: Zambezi is that one boutique luxury, which is not measured in kilowatts, but in fingerprints of masters. And if you want on macadam to drive in style as if you were at the Tate Modern, this is probably the most beautiful »lizard in a tuxedo", which you can park in front of your shed.
