Description
For sale, through JOHN BROWN 4X4 LTD, Land Rover 90 Ragtop in Tasman Blue (1986).
300 TDI (2495cc Turbo Diesel). MOT until 9th April 2026. Power Steering. 136, 000 miles. Highback 90 seats. Roll bar. Apple CarPlay/ Android Auto. Stereo & Speakers. New Black Canvas. Rear Bench Seats. Ex Military. Soon to be MOT & Tax Exempt (Next Year). Wolf Rims in Eiger Grey. Deluxe Interior. 12v charging socket.
We are delighted to present for sale this high specification Land Rover 90, which is finished in XS Tasman Blue, with black detailing, with Eiger Grey front and rear bumper & wheels. Those of you who follow HQ closely will have seen this colour scheme before – as it matches our recently sold 2021 X Dynamic HSE in the same colour! We think it really suits the earlier Defender too, which is why we have opted to finish this one in the same way.
So, why is this such a special Land Rover 90? Well – to those in the know, that’ll be obvious, but we feel the need to mention that this is (in effect) a modern Land Rover 90 with Power Steering, Disc Brakes, Five Speed Gearbox, Apple CarPlay/ Android Auto, Stereo & Speakers, seating for six including the driver AND in just 12-18 months time, it won’t need an MOT, or costly road tax. In order to get this level of spec in a later Defender, you’d need to go for a post 2002 “XS” model – and these now have a chunky yearly road tax bill of £760! Thanks to the added bonus of a 300TDI engine here – it also won’t be inferior to drive when compared to the modern ones, whilst being a faithful family run around which won’t cost the earth every year to keep going… effectively, this promises to be “all things to all men” as far as humanely possible.
Externally, we really think in this case we should let the photos do the talking. This was, in a former life, an ex-military 90 and still bears some of those delightfully cool hallmarks of a past life – the NATO hitch and the wing top box mounts, as an example. There is a brand new Exmoor Trim black canvas fitted and with the black contrast to the Tasman Blue bodywork and the Eiger Grey details, and in our opinion, we think as a package it really looks “the business”… in fact, we think it would be suitable for much stronger superlatives, but most of these aren’t family friendly. Even on a grey day on our test route, not only were the public enamoured with her, but we will confess doing another lap past the very reflectiveshop windows in the town centre than we normally would.
Over the years, we’ve had many Land Rover 90s and it is often most the interior which lets them down – tired seats and trims (and canvas!), lack of amenities, lack of seating – etc etc. That just isn’t the case here – opening the door one is greeted with a pair of re-trimmed front deluxe high back seats, with a central cubby box… handy for both keeping items out of sight, and also for a coffee cup at the drive through. Normally, at best, one finds perhaps a stereo in the dash, which may have an AUX or a bluetooth connection for your phone – if you are lucky!
Here though – this 90 houses our new Touchscreen Apple CarPlay/ Android Auto Stereo System with 12v charging point – it is both wired and wireless, and brings you right into the modern era that even an XS pre-2015 90 cannot boast “off the shelf” without modification. Simply hook on, and enjoy all the apps you are used to, with Google Maps directing, Spotify or Apple Music supplying your tunes, and not falling behind on your texts, WhatsApp group chats or even take calls through the built in mic system – it is all there. Of course, the stereo itself still has bluetooth, USB charging and an AUX point, should you not wish to use the touch screen… it can be fully switched off for night driving to prevent glare too, if desired.
Then – we have the driving experience – now perhaps the only criticism one could normally level at a Land Rover 90 of this age…. most point to the normally aspirated diesel as the detracting point, being unable to tolerate the brilliantly rugged but admittedly slightly down-on-power unit when compared to later Defender models. However, that has been addressed here with the fitment of the later 300TDI unit, mated to the R380 gearbox – meaning five speed gearbox, turbo power and the best possible long-term reliability. It’s a fantastic marriage between an older style vehicle which is easy to maintain and selected modern upgrades which make it feel like a 100% modern drive.
We’d normally close up with our customary summary paragraph here – but if you’ve read this far, you’ll know what makes this 90 stand out from the usual crowd. In recent times, we’ve seen people who are understanding the plus points of these trucks, particularly with creature comfort upgrades, whilst removing yearly costs – and that is seeing residual values on the rise… so if you are keen, the window to get in at a competitive financial level is, in our opinion, becoming narrower!
Priced at £21, 995
