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GP1



Member Since: 30 May 2019
Location: Scotland
Posts: 36
2007 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 ST Keswick Green
Land Rover shops going out of business
I don't know if anyone else has noticed, but there seems to be a lot of Land Rover garages going out of business in the last year or so. Off the top of my head, I can think of:

1. Bowler
2. Spirit of 48/ LR Motors
3. JE Engineering
4. Bespoke Defenders
5. Bishop & Rook
6. Kingsley Cars (taken over/ bought out or whatever its called)
7. Bespoke Offroad currently showing active proposal to strike off.

Seems like largely the 'custom' end of the market. Is this something others have noticed? Do you feel like there is a cooling off with regard to demand for customised landies, or just the usual market corrections that will always cull weaker companies as others enter the market.
Post #1065475 14th Apr 2025 3:14pm
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Chicken Drumstick



Member Since: 17 Aug 2020
Location: Near MK
Posts: 871
United Kingdom 
Garages?

Bowler was bought by JRL and disbanded, so not really closed down as in not making money or going broke.

Didn't JE shut down to the owner?

Can't say I've ever heard of any of the others, but there has always been small companies opening and closing in these kinds of industries. I bet if you grabbed a copy of LRO or LRM from 15-20 years ago, loads of places advertising in there also aren't around either. Most of them not recent changes either.
Post #1065481 14th Apr 2025 4:36pm
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Bluest



Member Since: 23 Apr 2016
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 4259
United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Java Black
We lost Steve Parkers recently. And First Four who I used a lot, went a while ago. 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS
Post #1065494 14th Apr 2025 6:34pm
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mini Anaconda



Member Since: 23 Aug 2016
Location: Thames Valley
Posts: 809
United Kingdom 
Some of them I had realised, others not.

Probably a bit of both, companies come and go and there can't be a massive profitable market for modified/Custom Land Rovers, especially when the last "classic" Defender to roll off the production line was almost 10 years ago.

What happened to JE Engineering?

Bespoke Offroad had a good reputation and not too far away, they were active on social media but no posts for a long time now. BORG - Bucks & Oxon 4x4 Response Group
Post #1065498 14th Apr 2025 7:04pm
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BrickBox



Member Since: 05 Oct 2021
Location: Wales
Posts: 926
Wales 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Zermatt Silver
Some have closed, but there’s plenty of new ones open.

Mahker, Juice etc. 2008 2.4 110 Utility Station Wagon XS.
Post #1065500 14th Apr 2025 7:21pm
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