RE-ENGINEERING the Land Rover Defender has earned Thirsk-based Twisted a global reputation that has fuelled continual growth for the business.

With a team of 24, Twisted sources base vehicles to convert, adapt, and enhance; restores customer-owned vehicles; or supplies brand new Defenders from a finite supply purchased by the business at the end of the Defender production line.

Over the years, continued product development and exceptionally high engineering standards have produced a range of Twisted-specific components that make the iconic British vehicle better than ever.

The company has worked relentlessly with the best component manufacturers in the world, as well as its own highly specialist team, to create enhancements exclusive to Twisted, and now the business is hoping to be recognised in the Large Business of the Year award.

Twisted is enduing continual growth; turnover during the last 12 months is up significantly on previous years and further growth is forecast.

Staff numbers have also increased during the last three years by 64 per cent, while over the same period the company has invested a significant seven-figure amount in stocks of vehicles and parts.

The company’s success during the last 12 months is a result of a significant increase in sales, while growing trade to overseas regions including the Middle East and the USA is helping to underpin future growth.

To achieve stand-out in the sector and stay front-of-mind, Twisted has a team of ambassadors who embody the ‘Anti-Ordinary’ ethos of the brand. The most recent ambassador to come on-board is extreme endurance athlete Sean Conway, who is the first and only man in history to cycle, swim and run the length of Britain.

The engineers at Twisted are empowered to learn, grow, and ultimately discover ways of working that will enable the business to deliver a more high-quality service, and knowledge is frequently passed between team members to the overall betterment of the team.

The recent launch of the Classic Twisted addresses a particular customer demand and will create more customers, while also helping to meet the challenges of a 12-month customer waiting list.

The Classic Twisted includes all of the elements that make the vehicle unique and genuine, but without the extras and luxury items otherwise offered to customers.

For the first time, customers can ‘drive away today’ with the added option of returning for enhancements and add-ons at a later date.

Elsewhere, Twisted is investigating the possibility of expansion into the USA and analysing numerous routes to the market, including the identification of a potential stateside base in Virginia.

Each Twisted vehicle that leaves the workshop proudly displays the words ‘Yorkshire, England’, and a small part of Thirsk is exported into the wider world with each sale.