North Yorkshire Defender specialist goes into administration

Previously known as LR Motors before its name change to Spirit of 48 in January this year, the company also has an office in Germany. As well as restoring, modifying and selling Defenders, Spirit of 48 also offered servicing, repairs and MoTs.

Spirit of 48’s parent firm, ARM Automotive Yorkshire, which sells quad bikes and other leisure products, has also gone into administration. A statement cited ‘escalating financial pressure’ as the reason for the collapse of both companies.

The group’s funding provider – ABD Finance Ltd – appointed Mark Ranson and Emma Mifsud from Opus Restructuring LLP as administrators, who are seeking buyers for the companies’ assets, including Spirit of 48’s workshops and other business premises. Creditors won’t know how much they’ll get, if anything at all, until the administrators’ investigations are completed.

Spirit of 48’s name was inspired by the first year of Land Rover production and at the time of the name change the company said, ‘it reflects who we are and what is really at the heart of our business’.