Sure, the new Land Rover Defender is nice, but ask an automotive aficionado to picture a Defender and that’s not what their mind will conjure up.

They’ll most certainly be thinking of the Defender of old.

Now, Canadians will be able to buy such a vehicle, a restoration of the classic, but fitted with some modern conveniences like air conditioning.

Toronto-based luxury automotive retailer Grand Touring Automobiles announced an agreement with South Carolina-based Land Rover Defender customizer Himalaya, making it the exclusive Canadian distributor of Himalaya rebuilds.

“Himalaya is redefining what it means to drive a Defender,” said Grand Touring Automobiles CEO Paul Cummings in a news release. “The premium quality of the builds, coupled with their respect for the iconic heritage of the Land Rover brand, make them the perfect addition to our product offering in Canada. Our customers demand the best in luxury and performance, and we’re excited to bring them a unique and collectable choice from Himalaya.”

What is Himalaya?

Himalaya specializes in re-engineering and restoring Defenders for the modern era. There are several levels of builds available, each tailored to the driving style and intended purpose of the vehicle.

All vehicles, built from the ground up at Himalaya’s facility in South Carolina, come with a fully rebuilt and tuned engine and modern upgrades, including larger disc brakes, a customer Exmoor interior, smartphone-compatible audio, air condition, billet aluminum door handles and hinges.

The company says each vehicle goes through a painstaking nut-to-bolt restoration and no detail is overlooked.

“The finished result stays true to the heritage of the original vehicle while offering the higher level of performance, comfort, and reliability that is expected in a modern vehicle,” a news release from Grand Touring Automobiles said.

“Our build process delivers a level of luxury and performance that brings the classic Defender into the 21st century and we’re thrilled to partner with Grand Touring Automobiles to bring them to Canada,” said Himalaya founder Greg Shondel in the news release.

The Himalaya Mariner, which is shown in the photos here, is based on the 1960s Land Rover Series 88 body Defender and is finished in a classic marine blue.

Learn more at grandtouringautos.com.