The Defender 130 was originally designed to accommodate larger, heavier loads than the 110. Specifically intended for use by utility companies, as well as military and other interests with special use case requirements, it is an absolutely fitting candidate for a camper conversion. 

In its standard form, the 130 was a four-door cab with accommodation for 6, consisting of, generally speaking, the front cab of a 110 standard double cab, and the rear bed of a 110 high-capacity pick up. Although the standard body was popular, the 130 was a common base for conversion to specialist uses, such as tool storage for mobile mechanics, ambulances and fire engines, and load transporters. Land Rover also offered the 130 as a bare chassis including only the front bodywork and bulkhead, intended to simplify the conversion process. 

This particular 130 was built by Macclesfield Motor Bodies International, which have made modifications for medical use, on top of an uprated payload package providing a strengthened chassis, uprated suspension, and better brakes. In addition, it was equipped with a stand-alone diesel-powered heater for the rear cab, twin batteries with split charge, lights, built-in cupboards with high quality latching mechanisms, a faucet unit with water heating capabilities, and fold-down steps among other modifications for medical use. 

The current owner has also implemented some of their own modifications, including a bed/couch, a one-touch light right above the bed (which is very convenient), dual-USB for phone charging (converted from one of the medical-use sockets), and laminate flooring. 

There is space for a decent size gas bottle in the corner, room for a double burner in the storage drawers, and extra storage under the sofa. The sofa bed is not permanently attached and was a temporary solution fitted by the current owner in haste, but is said to be very comfortable. It will likely require a few staples to reattach some of the upholstery as pictured. 

The camping area windows are tinted and open slightly for when it’s warm, and include roll-down blinds except for the rear door mounted windows, which have a makeshift curtain system with magnetic attachment. 

 

The current owner had originally bought this ex-St. John’s ambulance to convert to a camper and complete a road trip to Tuscany, which was completed in July of last year; traveling and camping in Luxembourg, Switzerland, up on St. Bernard’s pass, and in Italy. 

It was then used in a daily driver capacity for the last few months before being stored, and with the owner having recently moved to the city, the vehicle no longer gets the use it deserves. As such, they want to pass it on to someone who can more thoroughly enjoy it.    

The interior of this one is very purpose built, it is made specifically and invariably for professionals serving in the medical field. However, with a few modifications from the current owner, many of these medical-related elements serve great use in an overlanding or camping scenario. 

On top of what was mentioned above, there are some creature comforts added, such as the Sony radio with touch screen fitted with capability for rear view camera. This has been wired to one of the switches on the console to be able to use the camera independently of being in reverse gear. There are also new speakers in the front cab, and an external power hook-up with custom cable for using at campsites. 

Based on its previous life, the interior is in surprisingly good condition. The current owner states that all electronics and instrumentation should be in working order, with the owner telling us the water pump switch being a bit temperamental (the blue switch that can be seen in the pictures) to which the seller advises is only a few pounds and will to change before the end of the auction. Additionally, while there is a strobe generator located behind the driver’s seat, the blue lights have been removed from the vehicle. 

The latch which allows the front seats to fold forward is not functioning correctly, if the seats are leaned forward, there’s a part which falls off and requires a fix or else the seats will continue to fall forward. Other than those issues, the vehicle interior is in great working order.  

Up in the front cab; the seats’ material is in great shape, without much sign of use. The plastic floor coverings are used but still intact, and the floorboards are in good shape for the age, with no signs of corrosion or welding seen. The dashboard is in great shape, with buttons and switchgear lighting up and working correctly. The steering wheel shows some use, but is still in good usable order, with no chunks missing or frayed threads. The walls, ceiling, door cards, and glass are all in great condition as well. Overall, nothing is showing very much wear, but could use a deep clean and treatment to really shine.  

The rear camper area is also in good visual condition, with clean tops and floors, and no damage seen. While the flooring is in good condition, it was also installed in haste and is lifting up in the areas closest to the door. The cabinets and storage compartments are all clean inside, with metal backed corners and edges, and are in surprisingly good condition for their age. The cabinet latches are very good quality metal units with precise actions, and they feel very sturdy. The owner states everything is in working order here as well other than the aforementioned electrical items. 

Stepping back to take an overall look at this Defender, it clearly was not designed with the expectation of winning the local Show & Shine. The vehicle does not invoke the spirit of a proper gleaming detailer’s delight, and for good reason, it’s meant for tough and dirty work.  

Don’t get us wrong, this Defender is in great shape, and the exterior still sports the original paint from the factory. There are some unobtrusive imperfections: notably a small dent near the driver’s side door handle, and an area of corrosion and bubbling on the passenger side door bulkhead, both pictured. Additionally, there are cracks and chips in the paint on the bonnet, on the wings, and on quite a few other panels; but they’re all relatively small and are not likely to cause any worry. 

There are some medium to small scuff marks on the ambulance cab as well. All of these issues are, in the mind of an enthusiast and collector, signs of its actual use, and this patina adds historical significance to the vehicle as opposed to it detracting from the overall appearance.  

The window glass, rear windows, and front windshield are all in good condition, rather tidy and with the usual marks expected from normal use, but nothing larger than a small stone impact. 

The headlight and taillight lenses are clear, and the indicator lenses are surprisingly shiny, and show no hint of any fading from the sun so often associated with a car of this age.  

The original wheels are perfectly fine for use as they are but could benefit from a refurbish if so desired as there are some signs of exterior corrosion. They’re wrapped in a matching set of Michelin 4X4 O/R XZL tyres, still with plenty of tread. 

For the underside, everything is in order, but there are some signs of rust. While there doesn’t seem to be anything structural being affected, the owner states it could use a new coat of your favourite brand of rustproof protection.   

The vehicle’s mechanics are in excellent working order according to the owner, who states the vehicle benefits from years of great upkeep during its ambulance duty. St. John’s would have maintained this vehicle to its absolute maximum, as the reliability of this Defender would have been a matter of personal safety and a real life-or-death scenario for both medical professional and patients. 

As stated earlier, the vehicle is powered by the tried-and-true TD5 engine which was fitted in various other Land Rovers and had been the engine of choice for Land Rover in their off roaders for over a decade. That being said, parts are cheap and plentiful when the truck needs to be routinely serviced.  
 

The current owner reports the car to be in excellent mechanical condition with steering, brakes, engine, drivetrain and running gear performing as well as it should, and better than an original 130, as Macclesfield Motor Bodies International had improved upon Land Rover’s offering during the ambulance conversion process. 

In fact, the current owner was so pleased with the performance of the defender, that they were consistently using it as a daily driver for a few months before it was garaged. That being said, they did note that the clutch is quite heavy, and as such they’ve purchased a spring that is meant to lighten the clutch, which hasn’t yet been installed but will be included with the sale.  

The owner also wanted to mention that on the most recent MOT, there was a failure due to the rear light lens being upside down, which they then flipped over, and it passed. There were also some minor advisories they’d like to mention. While both rear brake disks are lightly pitted, they’re not pitted enough to affect performance. The MOT report also mentions that there is an oil leak behind the engine.

After asking the mechanic for clarification, and if anything needed to be repaired to fix the leak, they said the area could do with cleaning but that it’s a very slow leak, most likely from an output seal around the gearbox. Nothing too shocking for a Land Rover, and reportedly not an urgent issue.

This Defender has served many years of hard duty, but thanks to its uprated and strengthened components during conversion, and excellent care and maintenance from the previous and current owners, it lives to tell its tale proudly, and is ready to continue its service with a new owner. This one is a small part of Land Rover history, but one that both purist collectors and hardcore offroad enthusiasts can enjoy to the fullest extent of their needs.  

The absolute most important thing we must not forget, is that if you strip away all of medical service history, it still remains at its heart a machine designed to get you anywhere you need to go. This one is craving adventure and is fit for duty in its current state as-is, but with just a little TLC and a new owner’s finishing touches, can be the ultimate off-road camper.

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