A BUSINESS that converts off-road vehicles into bespoke luxury cars has placed a £7m order for 240 new Land Rovers.

Bosses at North Yorkshire-based Twisted Automotive said the deal will keep it busy for the next two years and support plans to recruit an additional five staff.

Twisted Automotive, which employs 19 at its headquarters in Thirsk, recently announced a jump in overseas demand for its take on the Land Rover Defender, having received enquiries from 18 countries interested in owning a personalised version of a British motoring icon.

Twisted has built an international reputation for quality engineering and tailoring each vehicle to their customers' requirements. It can spend more than 300 hours improving items from bolts, to full engine rebuilds and luxurious interiors.

Charles Fawcett, managing director of Twisted said: “Our new range has attracted a great deal of interest from around the world and our order book is filling up. This is the largest order we’ve ever placed for new Defenders and it will allow us to continue to meet demand over the coming years. We continue to invest and grow our export markets, who value our focus on engineering, luxury, and the pure Britishness of the Defender.”

Twisted’s main business involves buying new Defenders and modifying them to individual customers specifications. It offers a range of four models, provides custom builds, and also restores and improves customers’ existing vehicles.

The company creates about 100 tailored Defenders a year, prices range from £40,000 to £180,000 for vehicles that include a range of performance-enhancing mechanical upgrades and custom interiors.