• One private owner from new

• Lovely condition throughout

• Considerate upgrades including soundproofing and a remap

• Electronic handbrake conversion

• Dinitrol treated chassis with certificate

Wherever you need to go, a Defender will get you there.

In production in various guises since 1983 - or 1947 if you count the ‘Series’ Land Rovers - the Defender is an icon of the British motoring industry, and a regular sight across the UK.

In 1983, the car we now know as the ‘Defender’ entered production in two main guises - the 90, and the 110. These numbers refer to the length of the chassis - the 90 being the SWB and the 110 being the LWB version - with the latter being available in numerous setups including a pickup, double-cab, and station wagon, amongst others.

One of the great features of the Defender was that it really is a car for everyone. From farmers tending to their land up to aristocracy and royalty, the Defender appeals to almost everyone throughout the cross-section of society, whatever their needs or style.

In 2012, a number of updates were carried out to the Defender range, with the 2.4-litre Duratorq engine being replaced with a 2.2-litre version of the same engine, in order to meet increasingly stringent emissions standards. Elsewhere, a diesel particulate filter was fitted to the Defender for the first time, and the soft-top Defender was re-introduced to the market after a number of years being reserved for military vehicles only. 

In the end, growing emissions concerns and pedestrian crash safety issues brought the curtain down on this generation of Defender, with the final vehicle of rolling off the Solihull production line on Friday 29 January 2016, leaving the Defender absent from Land Rover’s lineup until the introduction of the L663-model Defender in 2020.

This particular Defender is a 2014-registered, Aintree Green Metallic 110 XS Double-cab 1-tonne pickup, which means that it classifies as a light commercial vehicle - great news for those who like to watch their pennies! Of course, this alsoF means a VAT invoice will be issued at the time of sale.

Registered from new as a dealer demonstrator, the vendor purchased the car directly from the dealer as part of the Land Rover Approved Used program in August 2015, and has remained the sole registered private keeper of the vehicle ever since. 

Throughout their nigh-on six years of happy ownership, this 110 XS has proven to be a reliable and trustworthy companion, regularly shuttling the vendor up-and-down to their Cornwall home in the first few years of ownership, with use having declined recently due to lockdowns and minimised travel requirements.

In fact, it has been so reliable, that the only noteworthy issue the vendor has experienced is a turbo hose breaking - a simple fix, and that’s about the extent of it! 

Having spent so long with the vehicle, our vendor has put together a comprehensive, yet tasteful list of upgrades and light modifications, which not only improve the performance of this 110 but also improve the day-to-day driving experience:

- Stage 1 remap from JE engineering, boosting power to 168bhp.

- Electronic handbrake modification, allowing improved leg room for the driver (The original is included in the sale of the vehicle.)

- Sump guard

- Bonnet air intakes

- Genuine Land Rover ‘soft’ A-Bar and spot lights.

- Tow bar

- Rear corner bumpers

- Genuine Land Rover load bay mats

- Boxed-off rear load bay sides, allowing for greater load-carrying flexibility

- Extensive Dynamat soundproofing in the engine bay

Despite the rugged modifications, the vendor assures us that this Defender has never been used for green-laning or competed at off-road events, meaning whilst it looks the part, it’s not had the usual abuse that these sturdy off-roaders have usually been subject to by this point in their lives.

So, why is this 110 XS up for sale? Well, it’s quite simple really - the vendor has put their order in for a brand-new Defender 90 Commercial, so this 110 is surplus to requirements!

Included with the vehicle is an impressive history, which is all housed in a nice, neat box file - a great first impression for any potential purchasers.

Inside said box file is a number of invoices from work carried out to the car, including the full Dinitrol treatment certificate, remap, electric handbrake conversion and other paperwork from servicing.

The full complement of Land Rover owners manuals are included, as is the book pack. Two sets of keys are present, along with a printout of the online JLR service history record which goes up until 2019, and an additional service has been carried out by an independant garage during the last two years.

Inside, the half-leather interior has held up well over the years, and further serves to back up the vendor’s claim that this example has never been abused, such is the condition of the cabin.

On the whole, the interior presents very, very well and shows only minor commensurate wear to areas such as the steering wheel, floors and door cards, along with scuffs to the edge of the front seat ‘boxes’ and outer seat bolsters, which is a by-product of getting in-and-out of such as high-up vehicle. 

The headliner is in excellent condition and shows no sign of any sagging, a sensor in the roof lining was recently replaced as well. The standard stereo has been upgraded to a more modern aftermarket offering, but other than that and the aforementioned electronic handbrake conversion, the interior remains factory-fresh. 

As far as we could tell, all systems were working as intended, and there were no warning lights present on the dashboard during our photo shoot.

Resplendent in its Aintree Green paintwork, this 110 XS commands an impressive presence, and green is undeniably the best colour for a Defender, we’re sure you’ll agree.

The paintwork, overall, is in excellent shape, especially considering this is, in essence, a commercial ‘workhorse’ vehicle. There are a few light marks here-and-there which are commensurate with the vehicle’s age and mileage, along with some more notable marks on the rear nearside wing, which have been shown in the gallery below. 

There are also two light, but notable creases present in the ‘B’ pillar between the doors on both sides, due to the check straps on the rear doors not preventing them from opening too far, resulting in the doors contacting and creasing the metalwork on the pillars. The paintwork has not been broken on either side, so this could potentially be remedied by a skilled PDR technician, should you wish. 

The ‘Boost’ alloy wheels seen on the XS model are in good shape, though there are some signs of paint wear beginning to show towards the rear of the faces, and a refurbishment would certainly be beneficial to ‘freshen up’ their appearance. 

In the rear, the load bed area has had the sides boxed off, meaning there is far more usable load-carrying space than with the original sloped sides seen from the factory, whilst a genuine Land Rover mat is in place and in great condition. The usual wear is noted here, though the bodywork remains straight and does not appear to be carrying any damage.

During our photoshoot, the 2.2-litre Ford Duratorq engine fired into life without hesitation, and was happy to sit and idle. The electronic handbrake conversion worked perfectly, and there were no warning signs or any areas for concern that we noted whilst moving the car around. 

The vendor notes that the gearshift is a little ‘agricultural’ and was looking at ways of tightening up the shift if they were to keep the car, but there are no other known faults. 

Looking underneath, the Dinitrol-treated chassis looks to be in very good condition, and the engine bay also presents well with its Dynamat insulation, though, admittedly, there isn’t much to see in the bay on account of the plethora of plastic ‘dress up’ covers that are commonplace on modern vehicles.

With regards to the Dinitrol treatment, this was carried out during Autumn 2020, with the vehicle being fully inspected and treated at 71,447 miles.

Recently, in March 2021, a new LOF clutch, master cylinder, output shaft and rear axle outer stubs were fitted, with the clutch still being in the ‘wearing in’ period.

The latest MOT test took place on 18 September 2020, and resulted in a clean first-time pass with no advisory items.

Torquey, rugged and practical, it’s not hard to see why these Defenders are so highly revered in the automotive sphere. Whether you’re crossing rough terrain, carrying bulky loads or simply popping to the shop for a pint of milk, the Defender will do it all and with a smile on its face.

This 2014-registered example is in excellent condition and benefits from numerous considerate upgrades, which improve the driving and ownership experience significantly. 

With a recent clean bill of health, new clutch and regular maintenance, this is a wonderful example of the rugged 110 XS Double-Cab pickup, and an opportunity not to be missed!