Description
This is my fully restored 1987 Land Rover 90. I've decided to sell while the mileage is still relatively low, especially as I want to buy a new toy or project.
During my custodianship, I've taken on and completed the most expensive elements of a Defender/ 90 resto. When I found the car, it had only covered 59K miles, but due to a cracked engine block, it had been stored in a barn for nearly 15 years.
When I purchased the Land Rover in April 2019, I wanted to restore it but retain the patina of an older Land Rover. Considering this, I went to town on the chassis and components and transformed the interior into a lovely place to spend time with a high-end fit-out and re-trim in Nappa leather and Alcantara throughout by Dclass in Surrey, (who've just won the people's choice award at SEMA).
The car retains its original colour and has recently had the exterior renovated and resprayed in 2024. This includes a front panel PPF coating to protect the new paintwork.
Given all the work that's been undertaken, I was told I could have reset the mileage, but with the car showing just over 64. 5k from new, for a 1987 version, it was quite nice to keep as is.
Part of the enjoyment was in creating what the car now is, a fully restored Landy that drives as well as a more modern vehicle, yet retains the iconic looks of an older Land Rover, and without any rust or running gear issues.
As a quick overview, the 90 has recently had a full body off-respray in its original marine blue colour. To retain its originality, all door frames, etc have been repaired or replaced if deemed beyond repair. During the restoration, the bulkhead was replaced with a 200tdi galvanised version, and the chassis is the repaired, original Land Rover chassis that was then galvanised after repair, so everything fits and aligns nicely.
The front and rear axles are rebuilt 300tdi units with disc brakes all around, the suspension and steering are by Old Man Emu, and all bushes are replaced with Superpro upgrades, the brakes are Brembo discs with new Land Rover callipers, and the original County spec Rostyle wheels have been banded at great expense to except wider tyres.
All these upgrades, together with a rebuilt power steering box, enable the car to drive extremely well for a 90/ Defender while retaining its full off-road potential.
As the original 2. 25-litre petrol engine was beyond repair, I took the opportunity to replace it and fit a 200tdi diesel engine from an early Mk1 Discovery that had only covered 70k. I also used the transfer box from the same vehicle so the 90 will now happily cruise at 70 mph+ if needed.
All mechanical parts were stripped, inspected, and rebuilt, replacing any tired consumables before refitting. I then fitted a new rad, intercooler, and upgraded Turbo Technics turbo, and had the fuel pump rebuilt and upgraded - so it runs extremely well.
As briefly highlighted, the interior was completed by a company called Dclass in Surrey, which works for high-end restorers and the MSV division of McLaren. They posted an Instagram story and YouTube video on the Landie. This was completed before the car was resprayed in its original colour.
In addition to normal specifications, the Land Rover has heated wing mirrors, heated front seats, two fold-down rear forward-facing seats, a rev counter and other additional dials, a reversing camera, fantastic Bluetooth and wired CarPlay stereo system with hidden, integrated subwoofers, a split charge leisure battery system, and a rear floodlight fitted to make the car as usable as possible. I've also fitted a Signum Alarm system and an Optimill steering wheel boss that allows you to remove the Momo wheel and helps deter any unwanted attention. Now it’s all done, it has been a lot of fun getting it done to this stage, but as a fully-fledged petrolhead, I'd like a new project or toy to play around with.
This is the perfect base for a new owner. I wanted to keep with original Land Rover running gear, but you may want to install a massive GM V8 or BMW/ Mercedes powerplant, and this would be the perfect platform to do so.
You will not see another Land Rover 90 like this on the road, it is truly a one-off and gets more attention than most cars I've owned over the years.
The last photo shows the vehicle as I purchased it.
Within the last 1000 miles, the car has had a full service, wiper motor change, and a new windscreen fitted. Once a sale is agreed upon and a deposit is received, a new MOT will be provided for the new owner.
Thank you for looking, and if you have any questions, please ask.
£ POA - Open to Offers
(The listing price below is for a photo of the car.)
