• Retro-inspired Defender rebuild

• Stunning to look at and immaculate 

• 300 TDi engine upgrade

• Eligible for US export due to age

Ever since Land Rover stopped production of the Defender in 2016, there has been a series of retro-inspired special editions celebrating the iconic model’s heritage, staring with the company’s very own Heritage run-out models – one of which was the inspiration for this stunning little 90, converted from a  basic panel van variant. 

Finished in extremely cool ‘Heritage Grey’, the truck was built up during the first lockdown to a specification of its owner’s choosing. He’s a huge Land Rover enthusiast with a definite eye for detail, and this is the third retro-inspired Land Rover project he’s built-up, with the help of specialists to take care of the more complicated areas. 

A huge amount of work has gone into the truck to bring it up to the standard it is presented in, which is very, very good indeed. 

C798 FFJ was first registered in Exeter in 1986 as a standard Land Rover 90 panel van, but it has changed a lot since then!

There’s not a lot known about its early history, but it was acquired by its current owner in 2020 having received a mechanical and structural overhaul in the hands of a previous keeper, including a new cambelt and water pump, glow plugs and shock absorbers. 

During the first lockdown, the owner dedicated his time to personalising the 90, starting with a complete strip down of the body, any repairs where needed and a full oven-baked repaint in Land Rover Heritage Grey. 

The chassis was also stripped and painted and rust-treated. Having put it back to being immaculate, he has been using it as his daily transport ever since and is only selling due to the imminent arrival of a soft-top Series IIA as his next project. 

As much of the work on the truck was carried out independently by enthusiasts, there aren’t many receipts or papers to go with it – but you only have to look at it to see the diligence with which it has been put together. 

It is supplied with a full UK V5 in the name of the seller and has an MOT valid until April 2022, passed with a minor advisory on corroded rear brake back plates. 

This is an amazing-looking truck, which looks absolutely fabulous in Heritage Grey, with the addition of a ‘Defender Heritage’ style front radiator grille. 

The body has had a high quality respray, before which any areas that may have needed attention were attended to. One of the chassis outriggers has been repaired, but to a good standard, while the bulkhead corners, body mounts, chassis and rear crossmember are all reassuringly solid and well-protected in order that they stay that way. 

Modular wheels with Cooper off-road tyres give it a brawny appearance, while other neat touches include a transfer featuring the registration number of the first-ever Land Rover on the nearside front wing and LED front and rear lights – a sensible and easily reversible upgrade for modern motoring. 

It’s a fabulous looking thing in exceptional overall condition. 

The interior, too, is very good, with smart grey cloth seats and a clean dash, door cards and rubber mats. 

There’s nothing fancy in the cab, but everything in there works as it should and it’s extremely comfy – well, by Land Rover standards at least. It has clearly been a well looked-after truck for most of its life. 

In the back, it’s in incredible order for a vehicle that was once a panel van, the perfect stowage space for your wicker picnic basket and Hunter wellies, in fact…

The truck would have started life with a normally-aspirated 2.5-litre diesel engine, but at some point this was replaced with the far livelier and also more refined 300 TDi, which is one of the best units made by Land Rover and is highly respected among the Land Rover community as a more refined and smoother evolution of the indestructible 200 TDi. 

The one thing that goes wrong with these is cambelt failure if not properly maintained, so the good news for the next owner is that it had a new belt, along with a water pump, in 2019, since we it has covered fewer than 10,000 miles. 

Last year, it was given a new clutch, a replacement turbo and a new exhaust system, while prior to that it also received a new power steering box, glow plugs, thermostat and shock absorbers, so mechanically it is well sorted. 

We were able to take the Land Rover out for a decent test drive and confirm that it drives really well – straight and true, and with a good gearbox, working low ratio transmission, good brakes and excellent steering – a novelty to many a Defender driver who is used to sloppiness in the steering box. 

The propshafts both feel tight and secure, and all of the suspension bushes and components appear to be in good order. 

As true British icons go, they don’t come more iconic than the classic Land Rover Defender, and this example is a real cracker, restored to a very high standard and in a very cool and tasteful colour scheme, with just the right amount of retro influences to not be considered over-the-top. 

It’s both subtle and striking at the same time and is beautifully presented, while the owner’s enthusiasm for Land Rovers and excitement at his next project is infectious. 

Being a 1986 model, it is also of an age where it could be exported to the USA with relative ease, which will further broaden its already enormous appeal.