Winning bid
£20,000

1997 Land Rover Defender 90 XD 'Wolf'

Highlights

  • Comprehensive restoration by a specialist, built up from its bare chassis
  • Only 9,823 miles covered since completion of the rebuild
  • Well-regarded and desirable ex-military 'Wolf' with heavy-duty XD chassis and running gear, roll-over protection, fibreglass hard top and 'Pioneer' tools
  • Recently refurbished mechanicals with accompanying invoices
  • Fresh 12 months MOT until 2nd October 2025, with no advisories

The Appeal

The original Defender is of course renowned for its durability, but none more so than the military-grade 'Wolf'. Countless soldiers put their lives on the line driving these vehicles in various theatres of conflict, so they had to be the very best Land Rover could offer. 

It's great to see that in civilian life, these de-mobbed Defender Wolfs are getting the care and attention they deserve. This 1997 example, affectionately known as 'Wolfie', has undergone an extensive restoration with sympathetic modification that's careful not to erase its military history. A restoration specialist stripped the Defender down to a bare chassis, and practically everything was restored or replaced in one way or another, followed by a course of corrosion-prevention measures.

The bodywork has been slightly 'civilianised' by being refinished in Land Rover Keswick Green, as found on those coveted 'Heritage Edition' examples from the end of production. It retains its military hardware though, namely the 'Pioneer' tools, convoy lighting fibreglass hard top and several other features from its time with the MOD.
Mechanically, it has been painstakingly overhauled with all new seals, gaskets, bearings, belts, new brakes and much more besides. See the invoices photographed in the gallery below which amount to several thousand pounds for recent work. Powered by the inimitable 300 TDi engine, mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox, this is one formidable machine, not to forget that it sits upon the legendary XD chassis with beefed-up running gear.

Is this the ultimate Defender? We certainly think so.

History and Paperwork

  • 1997 MY, civilian registered since May 2018
  • Two sets of keys
  • Restoration undertaken by a marque specialist
  • Fresh MOT until the 2nd October 2025, with no advisories
  • Stored in a covered secure garage
  • Did 39,000 km in military service from 1997 to 2011 and only 9,823 miles since restoration
  • V5C present
  • £3,741 invoice from LR specialist Glenrands for various mechanical jobs dated October 2023
  • Previous invoice from Glenrands dated October 2020 amounting to £1,021
  • Collection of old MOT test certificates

The Condition

  • Old paint and surface rust stripped off, painted, and undersealed for future protection
  • Bulkhead painted with truck bed liner in the lower engine bay and footwell areas for extra durability - the rear tub interior received the same treatment
  • Bodywork painted in Land Rover Keswick Green to stand out
  • A very straight example with good door fit
  • Professional paint job with only one or two very minor stone chips/marks from light use
  • Exceedingly smart chassis, also restored to a high standard and protected against future corrosion
  • All bonnet-mounted tools are present, including the tow strop
  • WMIK/‘Blindo’ heavy-duty alloy wheels in good condition with only some light scratches/marks
  • Hard top roof and rear door recently added; previously had a PVC soft top
  • All fittings/cleats are present to swap back to a soft top hood if desired
  • Raised air intake
  • NATO hitch
  • Hose-out interior remains authentically utilitarian besides several in-keeping upgrades
  • Two grey vinyl seats and locking cubby box up front
  • Steel lockable cubby box with Kenwood FM/CD/USB head unit
  • Two folding bench seats in the rear
  • Front footwells fitted with a moulded rubber mat set
  • Dashboard in good condition with centre-mounted military lighting switch and map light
  • Two front vinyl seats, plus two rear inward-facing seats with lap belts
  • X-Eng pedal lock included in the sale

The Mechanics

  • 2.5-litre 300 TDi 
  • Five-speed R380 manual gearbox
  • Equipped with four-wheel-drive and low-range
  • Heavy-duty XD chassis and axles
  • Power-assisted steering (PAS)
  • Mechanical components gone through with all new seals, gaskets, bearings, belts, and brakes
The vendor comments:

"Jumping into the driver’s seat, the ‘bomb-proof’ 300TDi easily fires up from cold and settles into a smooth idle. Pulling away, the power delivery is smooth with no untoward smoke, plus all gears and low/high ranges working as they should. The steering is nice and tight, and the all-wheel disc brakes pull the vehicle up straight."


BEFORE YOU BUY 
This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following: 
The seller is registered as a private seller which means consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not come into effect. However, you are still covered by Car & Classic’s own Terms and Conditions.. 
We request that a non-refundable fee  be paid if you are the lucky winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted Please refer to our helpful FAQs and T&Cs for specific rates. 
This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is Where Is’ basis and without warranty. Photos and descriptions are solely for guidance purposes and it's customary to carry out a full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase for your own peace of mind. 
✓ VAT is included in the buyer's fee. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing. 
We want a smooth transaction just as much as you do and as such we run all UK-registered cars and motorbikes for sale on Car & Classic through an online HPI check to verify that they show no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and have no finance owing, allowing you to bid with confidence. 
✓ We also check whether vehicles are recorded as being written off as part of an insurance total loss claim at the time an advert is placed on Car & Classic and we helpfully provide write-off category labels (Cat C/D/S/N) for your assistance. However, the presence or absence of a label does not guarantee the vehicle’s status and it is always worthwhile carrying out your own  full vehicle history check before making an offer on a vehicle. 
✓ Buyers are responsible for vehicle collection 
or delivery. Importing vehicles may result in additional customs duties and import taxes so it’s worth checking beforehand.. If requested, we may refer you to a third-party shipping company who can help. For more details and to speak to the team, email [email protected] 
Icon

Selling your Land Rover?


Advertise to 4 million monthly visitors on Car & Classic

Sell by Auction

Auction Details

  • Year1997
  • MakeLand Rover
  • ModelDefender
  • ColourGreen
  • Odometer9,823 Miles
  • Engine size2500cc
  • Seller TypePrivate
  • TownLiphook
  • CountyHampshire
  • CountryUnited Kingdom
  • Auction ends

Bidding history

21 Bids

toby-no••••
Bid
£20,000
14/10/24
RossGel••••
Bid
£19,750
14/10/24
toby-no••••
Bid
£19,250
14/10/24
RossGel••••
Bid
£19,000
14/10/24
toby-no••••
Bid
£18,750
14/10/24
RossGel••••
Bid
£18,500
14/10/24
toby-no••••
Bid
£18,250
14/10/24
RossGel••••
Bid
£18,000
14/10/24
toby-no••••
Bid
£17,750
14/10/24
RossGel••••
Bid
£17,500
14/10/24

Buying with Car & Classic

animation

How bidding works

All you need to know about the bidding process on Car & Classic

animation

Five steps to buying safely

We make it safe and simple to secure your dream classic

animation

Shipping & transport

Useful information on collecting your new vehicle

animation

Secure payments

The safest way to buy classics online

More FAQs

Gallery