Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.This 1997 Land Rover Defender 130 is a comprehensive restomod: a rare Hi-Cap crew cab rebuilt body-off in South Africa, then fitted with a Corvette LS3 V8 and modern six-speed automatic in California. Finished in Dravit Gray over black-and-gray leather, it pairs classic Defender presence with genuine V8 pace. It is offered at no reserve, so it will sell, and the questions worth answering are where it lands and how the California emissions status shapes the buyer pool.1997 Land Rover Defender 130Bring a TrailerWhat it's worth right nowAs a heavily modified truck, this Defender does not have a single benchmark, so the read comes from comparable LS-swapped builds. Classic.com shows a comp range of roughly $70,500 to $131,603 for LS3 Defender restomods, and a well-known Arkonik LS3 Defender pickup sold on Bring a Trailer for $85,000. At the top, marquee builders such as Himalaya and Osprey ask $189,000 to $250,000 for their LS3 Defenders, but those are new-build retail prices from established names, not auction results.AdvertisementAdvertisementThis truck sits between those poles. It is a rare D130 crew cab, which is a genuine plus given how few exist in the US, and it comes with roughly $150,000 in documented build and refurbishment receipts. It is not, however, from one of the marquee US builders whose names command the highest premiums, and it is being sold at no reserve, which tends to find the honest market number rather than a builder's ask.1997 Land Rover Defender 130Bring a TrailerGiven the comps and this truck's specifics, I would call fair value roughly $70,000 to $110,000. The current $26,000 bid with three bids and four days left is very early, and while no reserve guarantees a sale, the California emissions status discussed below narrows the eligible buyers, which can temper how high a no-reserve number climbs.Condition and detailsThe build reads as thorough. Pon Steyn Motors in South Africa performed a body-off restoration starting with a hot-dip galvanized chassis, and Scully Offroad in California handled the LS3 and 6L80 installation, a shop the seller describes as a Defender LS-swap specialist. The equipment list is deep: beadlock wheels, an external safari roll cage, a winch, Corbeau heated seats, air conditioning, a Dakota Digital cluster, and a modern Pioneer touchscreen. The seller reports about 1,000 of the 1,200 miles came from Scully's road-testing and ECU tuning, with the balance from show duty.1997 Land Rover Defender 130Bring a TrailerThe item a buyer must understand first is the California situation. The listing states the truck has not been inspected by the California Bureau of Automotive Repair or Air Resources Board and cannot be sold to an in-state private-party buyer. For an engine-swapped vehicle, that is a significant constraint: the practical market is out-of-state buyers, and anyone in California would face a difficult registration path. This does not affect the build quality, but it directly affects who can buy it and how.1997 Land Rover Defender 130Bring a TrailerTwo more notes. The truck was originally right-hand drive and was converted to left-hand drive during the rebuild, a major change that is documented in the Pon Steyn invoice but is easy to miss in the main writeup, so factor it into how you view originality. And as a freshly completed build with only shakedown miles, it deserves a careful inspection and an early service, since new builds tend to surface small items in their first few hundred miles.The offerSpecificationDetailMakeLand RoverModelDefender 130 Hi-CapYear1997Mileage1,200 miles on the buildEngine6.2-liter LS3 V8PowerApproximately 430 horsepower, 425 lb-ftTransmission6L80 six-speed automaticDrive typeFour-wheel driveExterior colorDravit Gray with black roof and archesInterior colorBlack and gray leatherCurrent bidUSD $26,000Interested in this truck? View the listing here.What makes the Defender 130 uniqueThe classic Defender earned its icon status the hard way, through decades of expedition and utility use, and its slab-sided shape has aged into something genuinely desirable. The 130 is the longest of the classic Defenders, and the Hi-Cap crew cab is among the rarest body styles, with only a small number in the US at any time. That scarcity is a real part of the appeal here, because a properly built D130 draws a second look even from other Defender owners.1997 Land Rover Defender 130Bring a TrailerAdvertisementAdvertisementThe LS swap is what turns the appeal into usability. The factory four-cylinder diesels these trucks were born with make modest power, so dropping in a 6.2-liter LS3 with a modern automatic transforms the driving experience while keeping the classic looks intact. Values for these builds hinge on the quality of the work, the completeness of the documentation, and the builder's reputation, and this truck brings a galvanized-frame restoration and a large receipt file, with the D130 body style as its scarcity hook.My takeThis is a lot of truck for what a no-reserve auction is likely to take, and the rare D130 crew cab body style is the kind of thing that rewards the buyer who wanted exactly this. My fair-value call is $70,000 to $110,000, and I would weigh the strong build documentation and rare body style against the fact that it is not a marquee-builder name and that the California emissions status limits who can buy it.The buying advice is clear. If you are in California, understand that this truck cannot be sold to you as an in-state private party, so confirm your registration path before doing anything. For everyone else, factor in the right-hand-drive conversion history, get a careful inspection of a fresh build, and plan an early shakedown service. Do that, and the no-reserve format means an engaged buyer takes home a heavily documented D130 that would cost far more to commission new.Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only. We are not a dealership or broker. All vehicle specifications, pricing, and availability are subject to change without notice. We are not responsible for typographical errors, omissions, or the accuracy of the provided information. Please verify all details directly with the seller.AdvertisementAdvertisementAutoblog aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.1997 Land Rover Defender 130Bring a Trailer1997 Land Rover Defender 130Bring a Trailer1997 Land Rover Defender 130Bring a Trailer1997 Land Rover Defender 130Bring a TrailerAdvertisementAdvertisementThis story was originally published by Autoblog on Jul 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the Car Buying section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.