Why the new Land Rover Defender is already rusting

It is the intention. Heritage Customs - a 'breeder' from Apeldoorn that specializes in Defenders - offers not only 22-inch alloy wheels for the new Land Rover Defender, but also rusted side grilles and tear plates. The rat rod look suits a rugged off-roader, the company thinks. Heritage Customs - which was co-founded by the Dutch designer Niels van Roij - has even developed a new technique especially for this.

Rusty wheels on the Land Rover Defender can also

A thin layer of aluminum, brass, bronze, titanium, zinc or even gold is sprayed on a plate part. It adopts the same flexibility as the underlying material and, according to Heritage Customs, is guaranteed to last for twenty years. After application, it can be polished, brushed, sanded or oxidized, the latter giving it a rusty look. By sealing the material, the corrosion stops. The rusty effect can be applied not only to exterior elements, but also alloy wheels and even the interior.