Bio Bonatti Defender 110

The Bio Bonatti Project is a “green” vehicle build project. This 1997 Land Rover Defender 110 was built from the ground up with a focus on environmental responsibility and sustainability.

From its inception, the Bio Bonatti Defender 110 was a low environmental-impact vehicle. The majority of the vehicle was sourced from recycled vehicle parts – the original donor vehicle was a wrecked 1997 NAS Defender 90, a truck that in other circumstances may have been discarded; the 110 box frame chassis was harvested from a Canadian military Defender 110; the body tub and majority of the panels were sourced from Land Rover Project Vehicles in the UK, after being used for an undisclosed R&D project.

The engine was upgraded from a thirsty, gas-powered V8 to a 2.5L 300 Tdi Turbo Diesel. The fuel system has been equipped with a Plant Drive Vegtherm fuel line heater which allows the Defender to run up to 100% bio diesel (B100) in sub-freezing conditionss.

The project received its name the “Bio Bonatti Project” because the vehicle was painted the Land Rover factory color Bonatti Gray, a dark metallic gray. This color was never offered on Defender vehicles in North America. This unique color makes the vehicle stand out from the sea of white NAS Defender 110s.

Bio Bonatti Sponsors
Thanks go out to our sponsors who have been invaluable in helping Pangaea Expeditions with the building of this vehicle: