Author:

ROBIN ROBERTS

Car retail prices may be skewed, but the market is definitely Twisted – with a niche North Yorkshire manufacturer and its ground-up built Land Rover Defenders recording strong residuals and value retention.

Customers of Thirsk-based Twisted, which currently has more than 30 high-value Land Rover Defender transformations on the go, are seeing residual value retentions massively in excess of the standard vehicle and in line with similar niche supercar ownership.

“It’s difficult to quantify, but there are breeds of cars which have a built-in sense of integrity and consummate ‘right-ness’. It’s the difference between noticing something that’s bolted on and stands out, and not noticing something which is integrated but enhances the experience nonetheless,” said Charlie Fawcett, managing director of Twisted.

“Twisted is recognised by finance houses and insurance companies alike as a strong growing brand and manufacturer, and by customers as an established, niche luxury and lifestyle brand. What that adds up to is a level of demand and scarcity that maintains residuals in extremely robust health.

“No vehicle is free to run, but Twisted Defender owners generally retain a great deal more equity in their cars than lookalikes.

“We’re not going to sell out to demand and cut corners or push production levels up – a Twisted Defender takes what it takes to build from the ground up, and that’s the way it’s going to stay: no compromises.

“But all our vehicles, whether new or second-hand ground-up builds, get the same treatment. We’ve recently started numbering finished vehicles leaving our DTC – Defender Transformation Centre – to engender a further sense of authenticity, and we’re now also retro-fitting these plaques to all the Twisted Defenders we’ve built in the past.”

Twisted “Edition” models range from stripped-out to everything-in, where original bare rivets sit alongside customer-specified luxury installations. Most Twisted Defenders are enhanced and specified to a level which can take them to double the dealer list price.

“We transform the relationship between a Defender passenger or driver and the road – engine and transmission upgrades, suspension re-tuning, bigger and better brakes, and interiors and soundproofing that deliver levels of luxury and refinement alien to owners of standard Defenders. There’s still originality, but there’s improbability too,” said Charles Fawcett.

There are three Edition ranges – the Alpine, French and Retro, each in short (90) and long (110) wheelbases. Each can be specified with engine upgrades to more than 200bhp and 337lb/ft of torque. Other enhancements include automatic transmission, brake upgrades and modified suspension, unique interior leathering, and exclusive Twisted parts.

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