It seems as though the thread is closed to replies so I cannot add to it. However, for very specific details if someone needs them I can check with my uncle, who was the one who dealt with the company and had it imported. I can give the information I know, which gives the general picture but I was not sure whether to do that here in my intro post.
The company we were dealing with was Image 4x4 (of Hull), I believe that is on the invoices but, need to confirm that. Also mentioned in the original post was Paul Moir who was the person we dealt with (owner of "Image 4x4") so I am certain the stories chronicled by others are with the same company, or lack of!
Essentially my uncle had contracted with Image 4x4, Paul Moir, to obtain a 90, completely restore it with custom paint, engine overhaul, new suspension, custom interior, seats, leather, add air conditioning, LED lights, etc.... many things were supposed to have been done. There was a contract, signed by both parties. This was in early - mid 2018 (again speaking in broad terms as I was not the one dealing directly with them). After some progress was made and the truck was supposedly nearing completion and almost all final payments were made (late 2018), we could not make contact with him at all. He was supposed to send proper pictures and identifying numbers to prepare for export (which had a deadline, aka it needed to be exported by a certain date) and he was not reachable. Around April of 2019 my uncle made an unannounced visit to his location to find the truck very much unfinished. The paint was done, the engine was there, it had a suspension and tires so it rolled but that's about it. Paul Moir promised he would finish it by June 2019 after much argument (he was very combative, acted like my uncle was the problem). Well, after a few more months of very little to no communication and no knowledge that the truck was actually being completed and would be ready, my uncle showed up with a trailer (after the date it was supposed to have been completed) ready to pick it up regardless. Basically no work had been done, it was still a rolling chassis with engine, no interior, no dash, no wiring, etc... Having lost all faith in his ability to finish the vehicle and having our own deadline to have the truck exported by a certain date (which was already extended multiple times and could not be any longer) my uncle had to argue to "allow" Paul to release the vehicle in its current state. This after Paul demanded an additional payment of 900 pounds. My uncle took the vehicle to a trusted mechanic he knew, who got the vehicle put together with generally stock parts (nothing upgraded, very much original) and had it ready in time for export... and now it is here in the US.
I am here to learn about defenders, I am sure there are going to be problems (paint is already chipping and flaking in spots) and we are going to want to upgrade it over time. I also wanted to make our story known so that anyone searching this company or owner will find this information and steer clear. My uncle dealt with this company exclusively and did not want to re-live it (quite the ordeal, stressful, etc...) so here I am.
