• Well presented

• Galvanised chassis

• Will have 12 months MOT

• Fold down windscreen

The Land Rover has been around since 1948, with what is now known as the Series I. It was designed with farm and light industrial use in mind, with a steel box-section chassis and an aluminum body. 

After the production of the Series I was such a success, the Series II and Series IIA were both equally as popular and were then followed by the Series III. It was in 1983 that Land Rover introduced the Defender. First came the 110, followed by the 90 a year later. Pretty much standard equipment on most farms, the Defender has been without doubt a massive success and nothing has really rivaled it in the 4x4 world. 

In 2007, Land Rover gave the Defender a makeover on the trim side of things, to meet growing demand for more creature comforts such as a CD player, leather seat option and alloy wheels. This was to give a more comfortable daily driving experience. 

This seller of this lovely Land Rover Defender 90, purchased the car in May 2021, and is the 4th keeper of the British classic. The 4 x 4 came as a part finished project, where some of the work such as the bulkhead delete and a fully galvanised chassis had already been completed around 4 years ago. 

The seller's intention was to just finish off a few bits and use it, but as we know, when working on cars you can get carried away and this is what happened with the Defender. Firstly a repaint was decided, which then led to new doors, tailgate, roof…. you get the idea. The end result though is a well executed build of a Defender 90, with a touch of the classic look from the Series Land Rovers. 

With a couple of other projects on the go, the seller has decided to part with the Defender to concentrate on these. 

The V5 is present and shows 4 previous keepers. 

There are a few receipts for parts purchased for the Defender, and some of the previous MOT certificates. 

The current MOT has just expired on the 29th August 2021. The seller will be putting on a new MOT, ready for the new owner. 

Inside the Defender is well presented. There are three seats to the front. The driver's side does  have some wear to the base, which is quite common and usually caused by sliding in. The seats have been fitted with seat raisers, which enables the seat to move back further (ideal for people with long legs). The floor has a rubber covering, then covered with some defender mats to further protect it. 

The dashboard is as you would expect for any Defender 90. It is in good condition with the switchgear all reported to be working correctly. There is no real wear to any of the switches or heater controls. The instruments are in good condition, with a digital odometer display reading 144,739 miles, and there are no warning lights displayed. The head unit has been replaced with an Alpine item, connected to two speakers on the lower section of the dashboard. There is a MOMO steering wheel fitted, and for some added security it is fitted to a quick release boss.

In the back of the 90, this has had a genuine Land Rover rear bulkhead delete which has been colour coded to match the exterior. The floor covering is again covered in rubber to protect it. Keeping the removable canvas roof in place is a satin black roll cage style frame. This looks fantastic, especially when the sides are rolled up or the roof is removed completely, adding more ruggedness to the overall look of the 90.  

Finished in Keswick Green, the Defender was repainted shortly after purchasing it in May. Before the repaint, new doors were fitted along with a new tailgate, and then there were some additions from the Series range such as the fold down windscreen and the headlight surrounds. 

Starting at the front, as it's not really been used since the rebuild, stone chips are not present. The bumper is finished in black and the grille and headlight surrounds are all colour coded in Keswick Green. The headlights and indicators are free from cracks. The bonnet aligns straight and the wing tops have been covered in satin black chequer plate for a classic look. 

As mentioned, the windscreen has been replaced with a fold down one as seen on earlier models, and a new windscreen seal has been fitted. There is some slight evidence of pitting prior to this being painted. This has been treated and so should not cause any issues.

Around to the sides of the 4 x 4, and the Defender looks fantastic with the doors aligning as they should. New window seals have been fitted to the doors along with new door catches and locks. There are some small areas of paint around the door hinge that have come off on both sides. 
This was caused by the seller refitting the doors a little too quickly and the paint was a touch soft (he was devastated to say the least). 

The doors have been refitted with stainless steel nuts and bolts. The wheel arch extensions are in good condition, with no scuffs or marks to them. The roof was new in June 2021, along with the aforementioned roll cage style frame to support it. This can be removed, rolled up to the sides, or rolled back from the cab.

Around to the rear, a new tailgate is held in place with stainless steel nuts and bolts. The lights are all in good condition with no cracks. Access to the rear can be had by rolling up the canvas cover. Some Land Rover mud flaps hang down, just covering the wide wheels. 

The Mach 5 replica wheels are in good condition and finished in dark metallic green. These have been covered by Kumho tyres, which have plenty of miles remaining on them.      

Inside the 90 is what's considered by many to be the best engine for the Defender, and this is the 2.5 litre TD5 Turbo Diesel engine. This has had an EGR valve delete, and to help it breathe a little easier the centre box has been removed from the exhaust system. Obviously this has also changed its tune, and it sounds fantastic when being driven.

The 4 x 4 starts up as it should with no noises that shouldn't be there. The transfer box has been upgraded to one from a Discovery, and a short shifter has been fitted for a closer gear change. The 5-speed change is reported to be precise and the 90 pulls well through all of the gears. The Hi-Lo ratio and diff lock is all reported to be working correctly.  

Bringing the Land Rover to a halt nice and straight are some new calipers and pads upfront, which have covered just a couple of hundred miles. Approximately 500 miles ago there was a full service carried out to the Defender.  

If you are into 4 x 4’s then it's a safe bet that you’ll love a Defender, and this one definitely steps up to the mark.

With some Series parts added, the seller has created a vehicle which is modern and usable enough to use on a daily basis, but with some looks from the classic Land Rover Series. The end result is a head turning Defender 90 waiting for its new on or off road adventure.