The Land Rover has been around since 1948, with what is now known as the Series I. It was designed with farm and light industrial use in mind, with a steel box-section chassis and an aluminium body. After the production of the Series I was such a success, the Series II and Series IIA were both equally as popular, and were then followed by the Series III.
It was in 1983 that Land Rover introduced the Defender, which was known as the Land Rover 110, due to the 110 inch length of its wheelbase. The Land Rover 90 followed a year later in 1984, with a wheelbase of 92.9 inches. Pretty much standard equipment on most farms, the Defender has been without doubt, a massive success, and nothing has really rivalled it in the 4x4 world.
Creature comforts were not really top of the list for Land Rover during the 90’s, and they were pretty much seen as a workhorse. However, this has now changed, and the amount of aftermarket parts available has seen the Defender back in the spotlight, and proving to be extremely popular.pxzp0ncQDIWT49H1Ig7kvcGoi3AWZSDAC5yeZDcB.jpeg627.35 KB
The History
The Defender is reported by the seller to have had an accident in the mid 1990’s, and is on the register, but with that said, it has been repaired and used for many years without any issues.
The Seller has owned the vehicle for just over 5 years. It was given a fresh coat of paint approximately 5 years ago to freshen it up a little, and was finished with a new set of County decals. It has been fitted with some uprated shock absorbers and springs making it sit a little higher.
Inside, the Defender 90, the front 3 seats are in good condition, with some age related wear as you would expect. There is a small tear to the material on the inside edge of the driver's seat, which does look like it could be stitched quite easily, the seat also looks slightly darker trim to the others.
Sitting in the driver’s seat, the dashboard is typical Land Rover for the time and is in good condition. The switchgear is all reported to be working as it should. There is some light wear to the instrument bezels where the paint has come off. The odometer has a reading of 145,021 miles.
The carpet has some wear which is in keeping with the mileage, and there is a new set of mats fitted to give a nicer appearance. Up above, a sunroof is fitted, and the headlining is in good order with just a few light stains. Into the rear, and there are 2 seats which match the front seat material. The rear is carpeted in grey, which has been replaced at some point. 5x2Yl8nbZXSC9XivEc1MN7khFl7wXFLgXYkO3BjK.jpeg307.08 KB
The Exterior
The paintwork on the Defender 90 has been repainted in what's believed to be Davies White, and finished off with the County decals to the sides. Starting at the front, there are no obvious chips or scuffs to mention, and the lights are also free from any splits or chips. The bonnet aligns up as it should with the slam panel and wings. An aluminium sump guard is fitted to protect the underside.
Around to the sides, and again, the panel gaps look to be equal. The windows look to be free from any excessive scratches other than general use, with the seals all in good condition. The County decals have been replaced to finish off the Defender. Please note, the passenger door does not open. The seller reports that the lock on the handle failed and he's not been able to open it since.
To the rear there are no splits, to be seen, in the lights, and the door aligns as it should. There is a small amount of blistering on the corners of the body, but certainly nothing a quick rub down and a touch up wouldn't sort out.
The alloy wheels are in good condition, with just a few light age related scratches and some light corrosion where previous wheel weights have been fitted. The tyres are all matching General Grabber TR, which are worn, but do have some miles left on them. k1DJhPukH4NfATnaP7BLc06bkrlKQBcvMncp0xH1.jpeg67.16 KB
The Mechanics
The 2.5 litre turbo diesel fires up nicely with no smoke on start up. The engine sounds as it should, with no untoward noises creeping in. The gear change is reported by the seller to be smooth, with the defender pulling well through all of the gears. Also fitted is the optional snorkel, to keep the engine protected, should you be wishing to take the Defender through any deep water.
You may notice that the vehicle sits slightly higher. This is due to the upgraded dampers, springs and what look to be larger wall tyres, there are also Poly Bushes fitted to help keep things firmer. Looking on the underside, there is a small patch of oil around part of the gearbox. This looks wet but doesn't drip. 61Ycxn8pZlA4GvOUQLYFaG5rjDS5TGxhq0HtF3wb.jpeg55.56 KB
The Appeal
This 1989 Land Rover Discovery County has led quite an easy life over the past few years, as you can see from the MOT history online, covering approximately 3,770 miles since 2012. It was repainted 5 years ago to freshen it up, which still looks in good condition.
With a huge following, this Defender is ready to be enjoyed as it is, or it could be taken to the next level with some of the upgrades you can now do to the Classic 4x4 Land Rover Defender 90 County.
Notice to bidders
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