Chances are if you’re looking for a Land Rover Defender you are no stranger to their off-road capabilities and their timeless look. This example is no exception, and has been tastefully modified and maintained to enhance the performance and aesthetics of this iconic all-roader.
With modifications from the underside all the way through the vehicle, most things have been attended to, with an eye to keeping this Defender mechanically sound, solid and very useable without losing the classic feel and look.
We didn’t see much in the way of paperwork for this Defender, but a glance through the MOT history says a lot, with pass after pass for years with only minor work here and there. This clearly shows that the vehicle has been cared for exceptionally well, both in terms of its bodywork and its mechanical elements.J04KKjc1yK4P1cU4TVdi39a7kXhYwvCPEz4kLjmi.jpeg645.19 KB
The Interior
Very tidy, original looking finish
Newer model seats
Clean and tidy throughout
Not much changed throughout the life of the Defenders production, with just tweaks here and there to keep things up to date. This model, despite being older, does benefit from the more comfortable modern seats that suit the interior well, leaving just the middle seat original.
The seats are in good condition, the passenger one having some cracking in the right hand side, possibly having being swapped from the drivers side to prevent further damage, as the drivers seat is much better and showing little wear.
The waterproof floor matting is very clean and tidy indeed, possibly having been replaced at some point as it shows little wear. It is fitted very well around the transmission tunnel and there are no obvious tears. This is the same under the seats, which is finished in a similar material and in some cases gets caught and marked. However, in this case that has not happened and the material is in surprising condition. To be noted is a little graffiti on one of the door cards scratched into the plastic reading ‘John James’, this to some may need replacing but to others it tells a bit of the vehicle's story. Nevertheless, it is only light and could be easily missed.
The gauges and switchgear are in very nice condition, the dials all clear and the rest of the controls presenting well with no damage. A battery isolator switch has been fitted to the passenger foot well. The interior is in a pleasing overall condition, with no issues to note.SJJebtD9AYglLkTkgqjYBxhuHtwMMyvzFirzRjVE.jpeg410.15 KB
The Exterior
Well applied Nato Green paintwork
Custom stainless snorkel
Black deep-dish steel wheels shod in BFGoodrich Mud-Terrains (inc. spare)
Very nice loading bay patina
We loved the look of this Defender, from the matte Nato Green paintwork to the custom snorkel and black steel wheels, the look has "serious off-roader" written all over.
Clearly the paintwork has been re-done, and this is by no means a body shop finish. But in it is finished well and fits the feel of the car perfectly, giving a fuss free finish with no need to worry about marks from hedgerows or otherwise. The metalwork underneath seems solid, for the most part being aluminium, with only more obvious evidence of some pitting in the metal around the rear tailgate. Some minor dents are present and a minor crease at the bottom of the passenger door but ultimately we'd say the panels are clean and straight, with just a few minor 'war wounds'.
This is a really solid truck all round, with a solid bulkhead throughout and the chassis and rear cross member presenting in excellent condition. Similarly, the door frames, which are a common fail point on this age of Land Rover, look very well. In fact, significant upgrades have been made to the bodywork and structure of the vehicle, including:
Front galvanised turrets
50/50 offroad tyres
New front bumper with centre drop pin
New rear crossmember and a new centre crossmember
Stainless steel snorkel
Rock sliders with jacking points
Around the bonnet has been fitted the usual checker-plate aluminium sheeting to give somewhere to sit or stand while out on the trail. Tying in with this is the fantastic stainless steel snorkel which is a refreshing alternative to the usual bulky plastic ones usually fitted. This has been beautifully made and fitted, suiting the Defender exceptionally.
The pickup loading bay appears un-painted since new and has a fabulous patina all over, with the usual dings and dents that show a life of use, but again nothing bad or untoward. It is finished with a thick rubber mat and matching spare wheel.
BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain tyres with good tread are fitted to deep dish, black steel wheels which don’t appear too old or recently painted. The overall appearance being that of a well kept and maintained vehicle, with a functional and serviceable finish.cnsptv3L24AIrRkhOYCqef9EQC0S9AJ2qKrclPPe.jpeg583.98 KB
The Mechanics
Recently overhauled suspension
Solid chassis
Robust and reliable powerplant
Starting with the engine bay, we are presented with the legendary 2.5Td that graced Defenders for around a decade, providing reliability and serviceability out in the country. Equipped with a widely used Garrett T2 turbo, it allows the Defender to keep up with more modern competition and gives much more low down torque. This example clearly has been well loved, having reached a healthy mileage, and is still going strong. Evidence of maintenance comes from the tidy, oil free engine bay and general attention shown in the basic things such as replaced hoses and jubilee clips.
The underside is very tidy too, the well treated chassis is in distinctly good condition, including the outriggers and the rearmost area that supports the tow ball. New shock absorbers to the rear with matching steering damper have just been fitted along with multiple polyurethane bushes fitted in the axle control arms. Generally the underside is very dry with some weeping from the transmission/transfer box, but nothing abnormal.
The vendor informs us that a significant amount of mechanical work and upgrades have been carried out on the vehicle. This includes the following:
New clutch fitted last year
Full fluids and filters service last year, with few miles driven since
Terrafirma shocks on the rear and Terrafirma steering dampener
New polybushes fitted all round
New knuckle joint on A-frame
New ball joint complete with heavy duty steering arm
A very solid and well maintained example of a now appreciating 4x4, with lots of new parts. Unlikely to be in need of imminent work, this Defender is ready to be used on the farm, off-road centre or simply to face whatever life throws at it.
Supported with a reliable and torquey diesel engine and large off-road wheel and tyre setup, this Defender is designed to go anywhere, and to do so reliably.
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