Land Rovers and Range Rovers couldn’t have been built better, or so we thought, then Bowler Motors happened. Founded in the 1990s by Drew Bowler, the company had a humble start, having been launched in the Bowler family farm in Derbyshire, United Kingdom, with just eight workers. Notably, the inspiration to start the company was ignited in Bowler after a Land Rover Series I he had modified for competitive racing became relatively successful.
Unfortunately, company founder Drew Bowler passed away in 2016, however, his incredible automotive fabrication legacy lives on through Bowler Motors. With its base firmly rooted in racing, Bowler Motors has over time earned a great reputation for performance, quality, and passion, and it has a diverse customer base, spread all over the world. Let’s tell you more about this awesome tuning company and its vehicles.
10 JLR’s Takeover
Bowler Motors got its future administration secured in 2019 when it was acquired by Jaguar Land Rover’s (JLR) Special Vehicle Operations. The tuning company was bought by JLR for an undisclosed sum, with JLR hailing the tuner for its “all-terrain vehicle dynamics, low-volume production techniques, and proving the durability of components under extreme conditions.”
Also, JLR used the first six months after the acquisition to stabilize the business, providing it with the organization and investment it required.
RELATED: Jaguar Acquires Bowler As New Performance Division
9 Service & Repairs
Bowler Motors has a service and repair department that provides every owner of a Bowler or Land Rover Defender vehicle with the needed maintenance packages which keep their vehicles in top shape, to deliver great performances at all times.
The package features a comprehensive Service B plan which ensures every little detail — from wiring to bearings and even down to headlamps — is properly checked. Dirt and sand which are quite normal on an off-roading vehicle are also cleaned off.
8 Racing Services
Bowler also provides an amazing range of support options and packages to its customers who compete in either the UK or other global race events through the Bowler Factory team. The packages include the best quality parts and services to customers with the proper license requirement, maintaining the cars before and during the events, while also offering a dedicated hospitality area during the event.
During the 2021 season, Bowler customers enjoyed a diverse range of support from the Bowler Factory team at several international Rally events.
RELATED: Here's How The Bowler Land Rover Defender Compares With The Ineos Grenadier
7 Arrive & Drive
Rallying is a capital-intensive adventure. However, starting from 2019, Bowler Motors, through a special package called ‘Arrive & Drive’ ,made rallying more affordable. Through this package, customers, experienced rally drivers, or newbies who would like to compete in a Rally Raid race, without buying a vehicle of their own, can compete as part of the Bowler Factory team.
The package offers rented Bowler Bulldog race cars with all the necessary support. However, the package has varying prices for different races.
6 Nemesis
The Bowler Nemesis is designed, built, and sold for off-road racing by Bowler Motors. Nemesis takes its form from the Range Rover Sport and both have elements like the headlight, rear light, and grille in common. Envisioned for rally raid events, the Nemesis features a tubular steel spaceframe with a roll cage which is approved by Motor Sports Association.
The vehicle’s engine options include a 4.0 or 4.4-liter naturally aspirated V8 and a 4.2-liter supercharged V8, all mated to a six-speed manual transmission or an optional dog engagement racing transmission.
RELATED: 2021 Land Rover Defender: Costs, Facts, and Figures
5 Bulldog
The Bulldog is a new breed of all-terrain racing car with amazing performance and style that was launched in 2016, first as a prototype and test vehicle for Bowler's new cross-sector platform. The vehicle features Land Rover Mono-turbo V6 diesel and supercharged V6 petrol engines and suspension.
The Bulldog is handbuilt to customer's order, and Bowler has released the latest version of the vehicle, a road-legal rally raid off-road special.
4 Defender Challenge Car Specification
The base car for the Bowler Challenge is the Land Rover Defender 90. The vehicle is powered by a 295 horsepower-producing 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. However, a Bowler Conversion process further prepares it to meet the competition specification.
This conversion offers improvement in the vehicle’s performance, structural body and chassis, styling, electricals, and safety features. Also, the vehicle is fitted with a monocoque bracing which reduces body movement and has a full internal roll cage.
3 Fast Road Defender
An upgrade of the Defender, known as the Fast Road Defender Conversion is available for over $27,000 by Bowler. A direct evolution of the Defender Challenge race car, the Bowler Fast Road Defender Conversion offers the vehicle for road use, but with improved performance, handling, and comfort, without trading off the legendary off-road or towing capability of the standard Defender.
Bowler provides conversion services in any trim or specification of the 90s and 110s.
RELATED: Here's How A Microchip Shortage Is Affecting Jaguar Land Rover
2 CSP 575
There are several cool projects in Bowler's oven, but the CSP 575 is one of the most interesting. Leveraging on the support it has from Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations, coupled with its decades of experience in producing International Rally Raid cars, Bowler will build the CSP 575 for road use, while still adorning the extremity and motorsport attributes that Bowler vehicle is known for.
Suitable for both off-road and on the road use, the hand-built CSP 575 will be manufactured to order, and it's expected to be available for deliveries later in the year.
1 Defender Challenge 2022 Championship
The Bowler Defender Challenge has been scheduled for 2022. The challenge, which is a one-make rally series, will be used by Bowler as a feeder series in preparation for global rally-raid events such as the Dakar rally. Scheduled for the UK, the challenge as expected will be operated by Bowler while Motor Sports Association (MSA) will handle the regulation.
Also, it’ll feature 12 teams with identical Bowler-prepped Defenders, competing in difficult rallying conditions with forest, gravel, and hill rally stages.
