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Their first official build restored the Defender to its original colour – Zermatt Silver -
Journeyman Works’ colour swatches. -
The Journeyman Works process follows seven steps and, each time a milestone is reached, the customer is invited to come see the progress and finalise decisions for the next stage. -
The Journeyman Works process follows seven steps and, each time a milestone is reached, the customer is invited to come see the progress and finalise decisions for the next stage. -
The Journeyman Works process follows seven steps and, each time a milestone is reached, the customer is invited to come see the progress and finalise decisions for the next stage. -
The Journeyman Works process follows seven steps and, each time a milestone is reached, the customer is invited to come see the progress and finalise decisions for the next stage. -
The Journeyman Works process follows seven steps and, each time a milestone is reached, the customer is invited to come see the progress and finalise decisions for the next stage.
Adam Hughes, co-founder of Cape Town-based resto-shop Journeymen Works, sheds light on the design legacy and colour-trend accuracy of the iconic Land Rover Defender.
WORDS Steve Smith and Josie Huges PHOTOS Supplied
Very few vehicles can claim the kind of cult following enjoyed by the original Land Rover Defender – or the Series I, II and III, as it was originally called before the Defender nameplate was adopted in 1990. Especially impressive is the fact that it’s been prized and zealously defended despite a rep for breaking down, acting unreliably, gulping fuel, being slow, leaking, rusting, and a host of other equally condemning issues.
But since the first hand-built Series I rolled out of the Solihull factory in the UK’s West Midlands, no other utility vehicle has come close to the unique mix of form and function found in the Defender. And here we’re defining “function” to include the ability to temporarily jimmy a snapped accelerator pedal by stringing a shoelace from the engine bay to the driver’s window to rev the engine. Or popping an egg in the coolant reservoir to stop a leak…
Although there’s plenty under the hood and inside the cabin of the Defender, we’re most interested in the design elements – especially its shape and colour. The fit-for- purpose, boxy, utilitarian profile is nothing short of legendary, and the range of official Defender colours over the years seems to be a kind of accidental palette prophecy for the 20th and 21st centuries.
Back in 1983, the Defender came in red, white, beige, blue, green, or grey. In 1990, the County Edition came out in black and the first metallics – metallic red and metallic green. The colours were always rich. Fast-forward to today, and the list of official Land Rover colours is upwards of 50. Put them in a hat, pick one at random and chances are you’ll love it now… and even more in a few decades.
Take, for example, the recent boom of browns that have made something of an unexpected comeback. It was the 2025 Pantone Color of the Year – 17-1230 Mocha Mousse, which isn’t that far off the Nara Bronze Defender colour on a sunny day.
At Journeymen Works, a Land Rover Defender restoration workshop in Cape Town, the main thing is the main thing: rebuild Defenders to factory spec, adding as little modern interference as possible. When it comes to colour, the same applies: select from the palette of original shades, or even better, respray in the original colour to preserve the vehicle exactly as it came off the factory floor.
Adam Hughes, one of the partners, who is responsible for the builds, reveals the colours their customers are opting for in 2026: “Since we only rebuild four to six vehicles a year, the range of colours we’re seeing is pretty tight. Whites, muted greens and greys (or ‘greeny-greys’) are in. While we’re hoping for a customer brave enough for Sahara Dust, Portofino Red, or my favourite Arles Blue, in South Africa the market is definitely more conservative. Which is another way of saying, it’s easy to stand out if you go bold in colour…”
If you’re interested in a sympathetically restored original Land Rover Defender, it’s definitely worth having a conversation with Adam and his crew. The process (inevitably) starts with a lengthy and passionate discussion about Defenders. Then, it’s time to figure out what the customer’s needs are. Will it be a daily drive, or a holiday beach runner? Are theynlooking for something with a bit of growl and punch, or something smoother and more comfortable? Once the use-case is clear, Journeymen will source the donor vehicle (this is the most common option) or get to work on the client’s vehicle, taking it down to the chassis and rebuilding each component piece by piece. All rust is removed and steel replaced or repaired, and almost every part is replaced with a new part – except in instances where the original is in great condition.
You’ll also be able to view their pared- down Defender palette, among other build options, in the Build Configurator Room, where the swatches are displayed. No doubt Adam will try to convince you to go with their favourites – Arles Blue, Zermatt Silver, Sahara Dust, Keswick Green, Davas White, Bahama Gold. And given how appropriately authentic those hues look on a Defender, it’s very likely that you’ll be persuaded… journeymenworks.com | journeymen_
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