- This Discovery features a 5.7-liter small-block Chevy V8 with 315 hp.
- The classic engine has been updated with electronic fuel injection.
- Legacy Overland also overhauled the exterior and interior of this Discovery.
People usually replace old vehicles with newer ones, but in recent years, demand has surged for restomods where old and tired cars are modernized and upgraded, giving them a new life. This Land Rover Discovery Series II, now 27 years old, could have easily been retired by its owner. Instead, it has been refreshed.
The company behind this project is Legacy Overland, a firm that’s established itself as a leader in Land Rover upgrades and restorations. As is so often the case with projects like this, the changes started under the hood, where this Discovery now rocks a 5.7-liter small-block V8 from Chevy.
Read: Vilner Gives An Older Land Rover Discovery A Range Rover-Worthy Makeover
There’s no word on why an old engine was used, rather than a more modern V8, but it’ll certainly give this Land Rover a unique character. It has been updated with electronic fuel injection and delivers 315 hp, which is plenty for a classic Discovery like this. Other upgrades include a 4L80E four-speed automatic transmission, bespoke driveshafts, an upgraded cooling system, fabricated headers and exhaust, and bespoke engine and transmission mounts.
What About The Exterior And Interior?
One aspect of this Discovery we really appreciate is that the exterior retains most of the original parts and panels, with only a few upgrades. These include new steel front and rear bumpers, black covers over the headlights and taillights, and new blacked-out steel wheels. There are also black fender flares and a set of chunky Toyo Open Country A/T tires.
No project like this would be complete without some interior tweaks, and that’s exactly what this Discovery has. Legacy Overland added bespoke brown leather to the seats, center console, shifter, and door panels, along with a checkered headliner. The air conditioning system has also been upgraded, and there’s a modern infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and upgraded speakers.
Fittingly known as Project Ernie, this restomodded Discovery isn’t about turning as many heads as possible, or delivering performance to match a modern V8-powered Land Rover. There’s a subtlety and a purity to it that’s often hard to find in projects like this.
