1986 Land Rover 90 Quad-cam V8

Highlights

• Braided brake lines and new master cylinder
• Troublesome glass fuses have been replaced for modern blade fuses
• Lots of money spent to make reliable
• Sought after 90
• Will conquer anything thrown at it.

The Background

A true icon of the British countryside the 110 and 90 were a further refinment of the legendary Series III Land Rover. This legendary machine, latterly known as the Defender from 1990 onwards, is notorious for being the king of just about anywhere it pleases to venture, with production carrying on until 2016.

The 90 and 110 was really an evolution of the very first Land Rover from 1948 and it has been loved since then. Jaguar Land Rover bought the name back in 2020 with a more modern adaptation of the Defender but the original 90’s and 110’s are still loved by all.

The History

The current owner purchased this 90 around 10 years ago with a worn-out Rover V8 and transfer box. They soon set about rectifying this issue by shoehorning in the Lexus derived 1UZ-FE quad cam V8 and a better 1.2:1 transfer box (this gives you better cruising capabilities without affecting the lower ratios).

The new engine had 136,000 miles on it, which for a 1UZ-FE is nothing to worry about and prior to fitting a new timing belt, thermostat and water pump were fitted prior to installation. Since then, a lot of smaller works has gone on to make this defender both more reliable and more fun. Running Inca Turbos and with a 5 inch lift it is perfect for the back roads and lanes of the UK.

The Paperwork

With the Land Rover known for its capability of being easily worked on with only a few tools the current owner did a lot of work themselves with a friend, so there may be the odd bit of paperwork lying about but don’t expect mounds.

With or without paperwork it is clear that the current owner has put a lot into getting the right parts for this Defender, with parts being sourced from Bearmach and other 4x4 specialists.

The Interior

As you’d expect from a rugged Land Rover, the interior is pretty sparce with only the things you truly need to get you into and out of a situation. With this being a 90, you can see that there is less space in the rear bed but that is the only downside.

Next to the passenger seat you will see one of the many improvements made to his 90 and that is the Blade Fuses, these are now a lot more reliable than the original glass fuses fitted from factory.

The jump seat in the rear of the truck is in good condition but the two front seats are currently under seat covers so we cannot say what they look like. The steering wheel is also in good condition along with the door cards and center console.

The Exterior

This Landy has been used as it should be over its lifetime so you can appreciate that there will be a few marks on the exterior body work, this is not to detract from the car as a whole as it just adds character to the iconic defender shape.

The truck is currently riding on Insa Turbo Special Tracks, a true off-road tyre, and it also has a 5 inch lift with HD springs, shocks and adjustable Panhard rod.

One key point on these older Land Rovers is making sure that you take care of the chassis so that you avoid any rot, the current owner knows this and therefore they have regularly undersealed, and wax oiled the chassis to prolong its lifetime

The Mechanics

The mechanics is where this 90 will stand out from the crowd. The major feature is that the old worn-out Rover V8 has been replaced for a more powerful Lexus derived quad-cam V8, it produces the same amount of torque as the original but now power is up to around 260hp. A true rocket on the road, that can now tow like a dream.

A more comprehensive list of parts that have been replaced follows; New Timing belt, Water Pump and thermostat fitted during the engine swap. Converted 300tdi extra high-capacity radiator by Arrow Radiators. A 1.2:1 transfer box to give you better cruising capabilities without affecting the lower ratios.

TD5 front double Cardan prop shaft and the rear prop shaft joints were replaced with spicer units. Braided brake lines and a new master cylinder. With the only slight issues being the last MOT was failed due to a brake light switch which is now sorted and an ignition aux contact that affects the interior fan.

As you can see a lot of time, money and effort has been involved in making this 90 the best it can possibly be. The new owner will definitely be appreciative of all of these little and big jobs that have already been carried out.

The Appeal

This is not just any Land Rover 90, it is a powerhouse of an off-roader and with thanks to the current owner it can now go anywhere, tow comfortably and stop well.

These 90’s are now highly sort after as both an off-roader and a collectors item. The one major benefit with this truck over others fitted with the normal Rover V8 is that this one has a proper Toyota immobiliser system thanks to the 1UZ-FE engine and thus is more secure than normal.

A Defender is a true modern classic and a marvel of British engineering, with routine maintenance this Defenders are known to go on for years having all sorts thrown at them. The new owner is going to benefit from a well-engineered truck with some special bits bolted on to make it even better.

Notice to bidders

Although every care is taken to ensure this listing is as factual and transparent as possible, all details within the listing are subject to the information provided to us by the seller. Car & Classic does not take responsibility for any information missing from the listing. Please ensure you are satisfied with the vehicle description and all information provided before placing a bid.

As is normal for most auctions, this vehicle is sold as seen, and therefore the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. All bids are legally binding once placed. Any winning bidder who withdraws from a sale, is subject to our bidders fee charge. Please see our FAQs and T&C's for further information. Viewings of vehicles are encouraged, but entirely at the seller's discretion.

Please see our FAQ's here and our Terms & Conditions here

Please see our FAQs here and our Terms & Conditions here

Vehicle specification

Year 1986
Make Land Rover
Model 90
Colour Green
Odometer 145,407 Miles
Engine size 3528

Auction Details

Seller Type Private
Location Somerset
Country United Kingdom

Bidding history

42 bids

cl•••• £12,000 20/12/21
cl•••• £11,750 20/12/21
Co•••• £11,500 20/12/21
cl•••• £11,250 20/12/21
Co•••• £11,000 20/12/21
cl•••• £10,750 20/12/21
Co•••• £10,500 20/12/21
cl•••• £10,250 20/12/21
ro•••• £10,000 20/12/21
cl•••• £9,900 20/12/21
Co•••• £9,800 20/12/21
Co•••• £9,700 20/12/21
ro•••• £9,600 20/12/21
Co•••• £9,500 20/12/21
ro•••• £9,400 20/12/21
cl•••• £9,300 20/12/21
Co•••• £9,200 20/12/21
ro•••• £9,100 20/12/21
Co•••• £9,000 20/12/21
ro•••• £8,900 20/12/21
Co•••• £8,800 20/12/21
Co•••• £8,700 20/12/21
ro•••• £8,600 20/12/21
Co•••• £8,500 20/12/21
ro•••• £8,400 20/12/21
cl•••• £8,300 20/12/21
Co•••• £8,200 20/12/21
ro•••• £8,100 20/12/21
Co•••• £8,000 20/12/21
si•••• £7,800 20/12/21
si•••• £7,600 20/12/21
Co•••• £7,500 20/12/21
cl•••• £7,000 20/12/21
Co•••• £6,500 19/12/21
ro•••• £6,200 19/12/21
Co•••• £6,000 19/12/21
cl•••• £5,500 19/12/21
Co•••• £5,000 18/12/21
cl•••• £4,500 17/12/21
2e•••• £4,000 17/12/21
cl•••• £3,000 13/12/21
Ga•••• £2,000 13/12/21

Message C&C Auction Team

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