Guide price: £5,000- £10,000

・Short wheelbase workhorse with TD5 engine

・Maintained by Mechanic and Land Rover Enthusiast 

・Added extras included rear camera, heated seats and Tuneit torque optimiser

Nothing lasts forever. But some cars stand the test of time better than others. The VW Beetle for instance, the Porsche 911, the Mini, and of course, the Land Rover Defender. Since 1948 they have been roving the land whatever the conditions. Initially inspired by the Willys Jeep back in the days of WWII, since then over 2 million of the all-terrain vehicles have been made. Rather unsurprisingly, it is estimated that 75% of those are still running, and they range from pick up trucks to fire engines and a host of special editions.

The Defender name finally came to life in 1990, following the introduction of the Land Rover Discovery in 1989. Land Rover needed to distinguish its original workhorse from the new model. For many markets, the key feature which distinguished these Defenders from earlier models was Land Rover’s new five-cylinder direct injection 2.5-litre turbo diesel engine, the 200tdi and the later 300tdi.  The quieter and more powerful (122bhp) five-cylinder TD5 engine was introduced in 1998 and has proved long-lasting and reliable.

This is the short wheel-base version, as indicated by the ‘90’ in the model’s name which referred to the length of the wheelbase in inches (it was actually 93, but in true Land Rover style, it made sense to keep things simple).

This hard top started its life in the UK in 2001 and soon after was exported to Ireland, where it was repainted from green to blue. Such is the vehicles fondness for international travel, it came back to the UK in 2011 and was registered here, by which time it had had 2 owners. 

The current owner acquired it in April 2017 with c.160k miles on it. He purchased it from a mechanic and Land Rover enthusiast, who had himself only done c.20k miles, and in that time installed the following:

He also installed an electronic ‘Tuneit’ device which enhances the engine’s torque if required, especially useful when towing. 

Since purchasing in 2017, the same mechanic has carried out a service and MOT annually. In 2018 the chassis was waxoyled, and a new power steering pump fitted. In 2020 new rear brake callipers and pads were fitted together with a new heater matrix.

The current MOT expires in February 2022 and the vehicle comes with two sets of keys. The current owner has been offered a new TDI from a friend so it's time for this one to find a new home. 

 

Includes registration documents and MOT documents dating back to 2016.

 

As a workhorse, the vehicle has been used for day-to-day activities and the interior reflects this. The radio is in working order and the heater also works. The seats are reasonably good shape for the mileage.

 

The car has a few knocks, one to the nearside roof towards the back, and another on the roof above the driver’s door. These were there before the current owner acquired the car. 

As seen in the photos, some sealant has been added where the hard top joins the body and also above the driver’s door, so this may have been to address a leak in previous years. The current owner fitted the side steps which show signs of surface rust but are still stable. These can be removed easily if desired. 

Tyres are 235/85/16 Goodyear Wrangler MT, tread approx. 5-6mm front, 7-8mm rear.

The owner says the car runs very well, doesn’t smoke, and he never has to top up the oil between services. The car runs as it should and anything requiring work has always been attended to. The only thing noted to potentially address was a squeaky clutch pedal, hardly a deal breaker. 

 

A legend, a true classic. This Land Rover is basically, a well-used and well-worn workhorse that the owner and previous owner has attended to as required. The owner says it’s structurally and mechanically sound and also comes with a few modern conveniences that, to the right buyer, make it a great purchase. 

The TD5 are generally regarded as superior to the earlier engines. The older Land Rovers have increased in value significantly over time and while this is far from pristine condition, it has a strong chance of holding its value better than many other cars on the road and may appreciate over time.

The Y213 WTF registration is of a form much sought-after in parts of the Twittersphere.

Notice to bidders