NEW PROJECTS
MARCH 7, 2025
Imagine a 300-acre farm in Upstate New York, not as a place of crops and livestock, but as a sanctuary for automotive artistry. This is Helderburg, where vintage Land Rover Defenders are reborn as $400,000+ works of rolling sculpture.
At the heart of this extraordinary venture is Paul Potratz, a man whose passion for Defenders began in the grease-stained floors of his father’s small-town repair shop.
There, he learned the value of hard work, attention to detail, and a commitment to quality—principles that now define every Helderburg restoration.
His journey from those humble beginnings to crafting the world’s most luxurious Defenders is a testament to the power of vision and relentless dedication.
Helderburg’s creations are more than just restored vehicles; they’re a symphony of handcrafted details. Think: meticulously stitched Scottish leather from Andrew Muirhead, German wool carpets, and Italian Alcantara headliners, creating an interior that is as luxurious as it is functional.
They implement a proprietary braking system, new suspension, and a modern drive train to ensure these classic vehicles perform like modern ones.
Each Defender represents 3,000 hours of painstaking work, from the complete chassis restoration to the final polish, a testament to the human touch in a world increasingly dominated by mass production. They are committed to preserving the Land Rover’s British heritage while improving upon it.
This is a story about the intersection of passion, craftsmanship, and the pursuit of perfection. It’s about a man who dared to dream big and turned a childhood obsession into a luxury brand, redefining the automotive landscape.
See article on AutosCommunity
