Arkonik Reviews 175

I bought a pre-owned Arkonik D90 and have had a number of technical questions for the team at Arkonik. They have been very responsive and helpful. On one occasion I asked Oli and his team to join a FaceTime call and he was pleased to do so. We identified the issue, ordered the part and the issue was solved.

My experience with Arkonik was different than most. I inherited the contract/construction of the Defender 110 from my late husband. At first, it was an interesting process, and the people at Arkonik were very helpful.

As the process continued, it became very frustrating due to the panic and restrictions around the pandemic. It slowed and ultimately halted production. But, one person in particular became my point of contact and my friend during the long process. His name is Oliver Harrington. Because Oli showed a true caring nature, he went above and beyond his “call of duty” as a customer contact.

The vehicle arrived well built and as ordered. My son was particularly excited about receiving it as he and his dad were to use it on off-road trips in Colorado. Oli contacted us on a Zoom call to review the particulars of the vehicle. He was very helpful and put us at ease with the Defender.

I’ll forever be grateful to Oli for guiding me through the build, transport, and delivery process, and for staying in contact with me each step of the way. Thank you, Oli! You’re a valuable asset to Arkonik and a real friend!
— Roxanne

I took delivery of my 1990 Arkonik LS3 D110 here in Houston, TX in December, 2021. I love this beast! Driving it has been an amazing experience. Dan and the entire SVO team were fantastic throughout the entire process. Responsive, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about their product. As questions arise, the SVO and UK based teams are prompt to reply and eager to ensure customer satisfaction. This car is my daily driver, but I expect it to see a fair amount of adventures throughout it's life, and I'm excited for the family heirloom it will become. I'm planning to take delivery of another Arkonik D110 in 2022, and can't wait.

I took delivery of my Arkonik 1991 LS3 D110 in a near record snow storm in Park City, Utah. After 6 hours of test driving it on snow and ice, words cannot describe how thrilled I am with my vehicle. An Arkonik representative flew out for the hand over, and was beyond patient and helpful as we drove everywhere available to allow me time to learn some things in pretty challenging conditions. What an incredible experience. What an incredible vehicle!

I took delivery of my Arkonik Defender D90 on November 19th this year, 17 months after initiating the process. It was worth the wait. I was very impressed with the final product and most of all the attention to detail. The D90 was perfect in every sense when it was delivered. I spent a lot of time on the spec with the team at Arkonik and they produced exactly what I was looking for. I look forward to rolling on the miles.

I recently acquired a pre-owned Arkonik vehicle; an early build from 2014 when they were known as Land Rovers UK. Prior to the purchase, I had a number of exchanges with Oli and Scott including a conference call. Our discussions informed my decision as they were able to confirm the build and answer all of my questions. The original owner had lost his paperwork and Oli was able to run down build notes, MOT documentation, UK registration info, and a copy of the Land Rover Heritage certificate. It has been such a pleasure to work with him - prompt, polite, caring, and knowledgeable; all this for a second-hand owner. I look forward to many years of Arkonik ownership and know that any future interactions I have with Oli or any other members of the Arkonik team will be like chatting with an old friend.

Arkonik restored our 1990 Defender 110. I can’t say enough about how fantastic the experience was throughout the entire process. The quality of the build is remarkable and the customer service was beyond compare. I can’t recommend Arkonik enough, they’re truly the finest bespoke Defender company on the planet.

I recently purchased the new baseball cap by Arkonik. Great design, excellent quality.

I've been working with Arkonik since my first visit to their facility in December 2017. I was struck then by the entire team's passion for Defender restoration and the quality / craftsmanship of their work. Immediately hooked, I locked down an outline spec for a 1985 D110 V8 vehicle. Tom guided me through the subsequent configuration process and, once the build started, I received regular updates supported with high res photos. After the build and QA testing, shipping to the US and transport to California went very smoothly. Andy, Grant, Oli and the extended Arkonik have all provided me with exceptional support throughout this period. This included navigating the challenging CA State DMV registration process and CARB testing. A few early mechanical issues were also quickly diagnosed and repaired by approved mechanics in the area. This included shipping parts from Arkonik UK.

Today, I'm the proud new owner of a "new" Arkonik 1985 D110. It's a totally unique vehicle that makes me smile every time I climb aboard, and garners appreciative feedback from other drivers and passers by.

I visited the factory on an open day recently and can only say that I was very impressed with the production areas. As a retired mechanical engineer I appreciated the professional set up of the various divisions and of the processes and procedures that were in place. The standard of workmanship was superb but what came across most importantly was the passion that these guys had for the product. Thank you for a very enjoyable day.

I spotted an Arkonik at a car show in Sun Valley a few years ago and fell in love with their trucks. I then decided to purchase a second-hand Arkonik named 'Vader'. I've enjoyed every minute of owning it! I upgraded to the LS package they offer in South Carolina and now I am going to build my own with my company colors! Thank you to Oli and everyone at Arkonik for the exceptional work you guys do - can't wait to build my own.

So far so good. Good to deal with Oli who expedited parts in a timly fashion.
Having been commisioned as repairer for a local customer who aquired an Arkonik Defender. We performed some warranty work on behalf of Arkonic and they met the expectations of us and the owner.
We performed the diagnostic work and repairs to get the vehicle back on the road in a timely fashion. There was no quibbles and our invoice was paid on time.
Sovereign Automotive Inc.
Independent Jaguar and Land Rover Specialists
Edmonton. Alberta. Canada

There is no way that these 5 reviews are all real. I have met about a dozen Arkonik owners, or previous owners as most have sold their vehicles. They have all had constant problems with their vehicles. The vehicles look amazing. No denying that. I purchased 2 of them. Unfortunately, mechanically they are absolutely miserable cars. Do not buy one of these cars unless you want to waste countless hours of your life dealing with the constant problems....to list a few of mine...

3 radiators
Radiator fluid constantly leaks (hence both a 5 qt of fluid and oil live in both of my cars for regular top offs)
Timing cover gasket leaks
Power steering pan leaks
Oil pan gasket leaks
Transmission leaking
Transfer case leaking
Rear differential pinion seals leaking
Both front burfield joints have had issues
Exhaust manifold is missing bolts
Starter replaced - the 110 in particular has a very hard time starting still
Clutch doesn’t work shifting to reverse and 2nd
Vehicle wasn’t even grounded
Fuel plates didn’t let enough fuel in to start
Paint bubbling off
Did I mention that basically everything leaks?

My 110 also stalls when downshifting to stop. Very alarming.

The list goes on...and no joke, hundreds of correspondence with Arkonik.

Ask for references for people that live near you that have had the car for over a year.

But do not buy one of these great looking vehicles.

I am in the process of purchasing an Arkonik 110 from the first owner who ordered it new from Arkonik. I take deliver in about two weeks. I was familiar with Arkonik based on my online research on best Defender 110 restoration companies. They clearly stand out as the premium restoration companies in this space. The support I've received from Oli at Arkonik has been top notch. I asked if he could send me the original build sheet, info on the donor vehicle and pictures of the trucks build as it went through refurbishment. Within 24 hours I had the trucks original build name, pics and D.O.B. certified from Land Rover. Can't tell you how pleased I am with their service already. I'm excited to become part of the Arkonik family and look forward to many adventures with my Defender and my Lab!

I first met Andy Hayes at the 2017 Goodwood Revival where he was displaying a few is of his Land Rovers. Goodwood Revival is in my mind the ultimate event for all things British and automotive. All the big names were there but when I entered Arkonik's display I was absolutely "gob-smacked"!!! I am a serious Land Rover collector and restorer and have an appreciation for detail and originality. Arkonik ticked boxes that I never even had before.

Andy and I have continued to stay in touch and I still admire what they do and happy to see other's do particularly in North America.

Success hasn't diminished their passion for for perfection. If you want the best Defender there is no where else to go in my mind.

Stuart Longair
Vancouver, BC, Canada

Purchase of Arkonik D110

I recently received my D110 after its arrival from the UK. The vehicle was delivered as advertised - finish, fit, workmanship are all excellent. While I was not able to go to to Charleston to do an in person delivery due to Covid, the video chat overview was great. I have had one minor issue where my battery went bad, but Arkonik quickly authorized the purchase of a new one and is reimbursing me, no questions asked.

If you are in the market for a brand new vintage Defender, Arkonik delivers as advertised.

We purchased a 110 from Arkonik and the experience has been exceptional. Great team of people that do a great job.

I just ordered a D90 from Arkonik. I can’t say enough good things about the experience I have had so far. I have followed Arkonik for years. I have always thought their restorations were better looking than any other companies. I can say after visiting the Charleston SC shop. The pictures do not do them justice. They are by far superior to any other restored Defenders that I have seen. The attention to detail is extraordinary. The staff is second to none. Mr. Hayes spent three hours with me. Introducing me to every person in the building and answering all of my questions no matter how dumb some may have been. I am very excited to work with them. I just wish I could time travel into the future 14 months from now.

Robert Whitehurst
Raleigh NC

I've had the pleasure of dealing with a lovely gentleman named Oli recently. He has made the entire process a breeze! Couldn't ask for any better professionalism and empathy from him or Arkonik. Always a pleasure!

Arkonik has one of the best customer service, Ollie in particular was very friendly, and I will definitely be coming back!!!!!