Man who bought 240 Land Rover Defenders in 2015 reveals how much he made from ‘biggest risk of his career’
In 2015, Charles Fawcett spent more than £8 million to buy 240 Land Rover Defenders, which were being discontinued after nearly 70 years. At the time, many people thought he was crazy for taking such a big risk. However, looking back now, it turned out to be one of the best decisions he ever made.
Charles saw an opportunity when Land Rover announced they were stopping production of the iconic Defender. While others were sad about the news, he decided to buy a large number of these vehicles to modify and sell through his company, Twisted, based in North Yorkshire. Twisted specializes in customizing and upgrading Defenders.
Buying 240 Defenders was a huge gamble for Charles, especially since he didn’t have the money upfront. He had to borrow every penny to make the purchase. But his bet paid off. Over the years, the modified Defenders have become highly sought after, selling for between £180,000 and £320,000 each. Out of the original 240, only 25 remain.
Charles explained that each vehicle requires around 1,500 hours of work, using parts and techniques developed over 25 years. This level of craftsmanship justifies the high price. He also mentioned that having these Defenders helped his business grow significantly, generating over £50 million in revenue since 2015.
Charles enjoys taking risks and often goes against advice when people tell him something is a bad idea. He even managed to win over Jeremy Clarkson, a well-known critic of the Defender, by sending him a modified version to review. Clarkson ended up praising the car, partly thanks to a heartfelt letter from Charles’ daughter.
Looking ahead, Charles plans to modify one of the remaining Defenders to sell for half a million pounds, making it a truly special vehicle. Despite the high price, the Twisted Defenders still retain the classic charm of the original model, with features like the iconic gear shift and handbrake.
In the end, what seemed like a risky move turned into a successful business strategy, proving that sometimes taking a chance can lead to great rewards.
