The Land Rover name is inextricably linked to a reputation for versatility and durability, and it's difficult to envision a British agricultural scene without a Land Rover in sight.

When conceived in 1947, the makers could never have predicted that the design would last so long and that the brand's success and survival would be a testament to its simple yet durable design.

It grew into both a lifestyle vehicle and a sturdy workhorse without abandoning the brand's core values.  Recognised as the first official limited edition Land Rover, this 1994 Defender 90 SV is just one of 90 models produced.

As a Land Rover Special Vehicles Operation department model, its distinctive style is characterised by its all-over protection cage, Caprice Mica Metallic paint, alloys and special “90SV” graphics.

With just two recorded owners and thorough service history, this example has been sympathetically looked after over the years and could be an ideal candidate to use as it is or bring up to scratch.

Registered in June 1994 by Land Rover dealer Yarnolds in Warwickshire, the first owner kept the car until 2000 having covered 72,000 miles. It found its way to its second owner in 2000 who then kept it for the next 21 years, with a drastically reduced amount of use.

Towards the end of the second owner's ownership, it appears to have recorded just a few hundred miles a year and it was at this point that the current owner made an offer for it. Fully aware of its rarity, he embarked on an extensive clean up of the interior, as well as several cosmetic and structural repairs to make the car look presentable and roadworthy.

This is the current owner’s 5th Defender, so he is more than familiar with the brand and its attributes. The Defender is now being placed for sale, due to the usual issues of storage space and a lack of use. He mainly used it for a few summer outings thanks to its rear open-deck versatility, acting as an open-top car to amuse his grandchildren.

The Defender was regularly serviced up to 79,000 miles, with stamps issued in the service booklet by its original dealer and authorised agents. Along with healthy coverage of printed and online MOT’s throughout its life, it goes some way into confirming the authenticity of the cars recorded mileage.

On top of its impressive provenance, there is also a stack of maintenance and repair bills, many of them carried out by the original dealer. Much of the initial invoices cover servicing and sundry costs, with the addition of a new rear exhaust section, heater fan motor, power steering pump, a new starter motor and a new windscreen.

More recent work includes a near-side A-post repair, along with treatment carried out to the chassis and new bespoke rear cross member both of which were sand-blasted, prepared and waxoyled.

Cosmetic work includes repairs and repaints to the bottom of the passenger doors and the installation of a genuine Land Rover replacement hood. The car comes with an MOT to August 2022 and a current V5.

The cabin has been subjected to a deep clean, with the seats, in particular, needing some elbow grease. The efforts have paid off and the presentation of the interior looks inviting.

The fabric seats are in very good shape, with no damage or rips. They retain a decent level of firmness, with the driver's seat perhaps showing a little more use. There is a little wear on the driver's seat lower mount, where almost 30 years of entry and exit have worn the base materials.

The car comes with a decent drivers rubber over mat,. The floor covering is in good condition and appears not to show any signs of water collection. The dashboard is in good shape, with no cracks and is said to be completely original and fully functional.

The dials, controls and switches are in good condition and in line with the age of the car but not showing signs of rough use, just the storage cubby box looking slightly worn. The steering wheel, gear levers and hand brake are well presented with limited signs of wear.

The door cards are good, with very little in terms of damage and the headlining is in good shape with no signs of water ingress. There is no major damage or suggestions of heavy use in the luggage area, with the expected signs of wear but could easily be brought up to a presentable state with a little effort.

The car comes with a dealer sourced Land Rover gun box, which was bought when the car was two months old. It has been cleaned up and repainted - obviously a neat item to have which doesn’t need to serve its original purpose!

The Defender’s chassis is in very good condition, having seen recent blast treatment, followed by a coat of waxoyl. The rear cross member has also been completely replaced with a bespoke item and is free of any damage.

With the core structural issues looking good, the underside of the bodywork is equally solid, with suspension mounts, inner wings and the floor pan looking solid. A quick glance at the front footwells shows no significant issues with the bulkhead and engine bay intact.

There is corrosion on the nearside side bar, but that is the extent of the underside issues. The external panel work is in good condition, with very little in terms of significant dent damage. All doors open and close without obstruction. The panels hang well with decent panel gaps and intact door rubbers.

Both side doors have been treated and repainted, with a little corrosion coming through on the nearside door boot. There are no significant issues in terms of the wings, A-posts, bonnet or rear door. The body cage is in good shape with minor signs of age noted on the bolt mountings.

The distinctive Caprice Mica Metallic paint is in good condition, with just a handful of age-related blemishes. The paint coverage is good with a reasonably decent shine. The cars unique 90 SV decals have faded over time, but the car comes with a set of reproduction items as part of the sale.

The canvas roof is in excellent condition, it had been ordered via the dealer by the second owner but never fitted until recently. The zips and fastening are all complete, although a handful of the poppers may benefit from replacements.

The plastic hood glass is in excellent condition throughout with no cracks or discolouration. The body glass is good throughout and free from any cracks or lamination damage. All of the lights and lenses are in good shape, including the impressive array of front spotlights.

The body trim parts, such as the plastic arches, mud flaps and detailing are in good shape and all are correct for the spec of the 90 SV. The bumpers are solid with light wear.

The Range Rover style 16" alloy wheels are straight, with signs of corrosion bubbling through. The tyres are in good shape, over 10 years old but with plenty of life in them.

The trusty 200Tdi turbo diesel engine presentation is typically industrial as the owner was keen not to cover up its true condition. The core hoses, pipework and ancillaries are intact, with typical age-related surface corrosion observed on a few components.

However, it does run exceptionally well and did not present any issues during the cold and damp road test. It starts up instantly with no signs of excessive smoke, and the good service records imply that it not only sounds good but also performs well when driving, idling smoothly with no skipped beats or undesirable noises.

While the car is on the move, the gear changes are slick, with no shudders or severe vibrations. No noises were heard from the steering and it appeared not to show any unwanted wobbles.

The ride was relatively rattle-free at low speeds, typically firm but free from notable creaking. While on tick over, there were no issues with the oil pressure or engine temperature. The brakes work well, with no juddering or fade.

The physical condition of the axles, steering arms and linkages are in good shape, thanks to the recently applied protection. The car has also seen electrical work, with the loom having seen recent attention to address a lighting issue.

Combining the best of both worlds, this is Land Rover’s savvy marketing people applying a trusted design into the world of open-top leisure. The added style of the 90 SV was the first of Land Rover's recognition of the changing face of off-roading, with its off-road credentials remaining intact. 

Its rarity and pampered history make it a unique take on an original factory Defender, maybe appealing to people who value its iconic status as well as its investment potential.