The Bowler ‘100th Edition’ doesn’t mark the occasion you think it does

There might be a bit of confusion here.

Partly from calling something the 100th Edition 90, which is a touch brain-bending in itself, but also because this car is, quite literally, the 100th Defender 90 that’s been fettled and finessed by the team over at Bowler. And there you were thinking it was some kind of anniversary of a date in the distant past.

Speaking of dates from the past, you’ll notice that this is an old Land Rover Defender, which is easily distinguished from the new one by not looking like it belongs out the front of the Beckham’s place in Holland Park. Which means that Bowler had to source a not-new one, then set about making it as good as new, and worthy of a £78,000 asking price. We’re told this process is called ‘restoration’, and we’re also reliably informed that Bowler’s something of a dab hand at it.

Bowler’s thorough restoration and reworking of the old Land Rover Defender 90 is called the ‘Fast Road Conversion’ – they’re pretty literal types up around the Amber Valley, by the looks of it – which in turn takes quite a bit on from the old Bowler Defender Challenge racer. Which was a hilarious bit of kit.

Like the Challenge, the 100th Edition gets classic Defender 90 looks and a stage 2 tune of the 2.2-litre diesel for 170bhp and 332lb ft. For the Defender 90, the stage 2 engine upgrade also includes a race-spec intercooler and exhaust. Power and torque figures stay the same, but we’re tipping that they add the ability to achieve peak power and torque regardless of the weather and the mechanical sympathy of whoever’s behind the wheel.

Big BF Goodrich all-terrain tyres enclose Bowler’s own lightweight alloy wheels, which are a full 18 inches across to house the big brake kit without... uh, ‘self-clearancing’ as you drive. Inside, it’s a list of names you’d want to see in any interior: Momo steering wheel, Sparco seats, Alcantara fabric draped over proper soundproofing. Because it’s still a road car – as the ‘Fast Road Suspension’ would attest. And yes, like we said, literal types. Which probably explains why the car is called... well, precisely what it is.