Description
FOR SALE: 1990 Land Rover Defender 90 Cab – 200TDI
We’ve decided to part ways with our much-loved Defender 90 Cab to make space for a newer model alongside our old Series III. We've owned it since 2022 and used it regularly – for off-roading, log hauling, woodland work, shooting trips, and general life with a classic Landy. It’s been well maintained and thoughtfully upgraded – but it’s no showroom queen. This is a working Defender with charm, quirks, and bags of character.
Let’s talk quirks – because it’s a Defender, after all:
Doors – classic Land Rover alignment. Great for ventilation, not so great for watertightness.
Oil drips – yes, it marks its territory.
Fuel gauge – doesn’t work. You’ll get used to it.
Reverse gear – needs holding in place, sometimes pops out. The rest of the gears are fine, especially since we fitted a Syncro Gearboxes Slick Shift – a real improvement.
Air horn – currently unreliable.
One headlight halo – occasionally stops lighting up white, but the indicator still works fine.
Door locks – work when they feel like it.
Winch – fully wired in, but the motor has packed up.
Plenty of other rattles, squeaks, and quirks included – it’s part of the Landy experience.
Bodywork and condition:
This Defender wears its history proudly. There’s rust starting to show in the usual places, along with scrapes, scratches, and some dents (notably on the bonnet). It’s honest, solid, and well-used – exactly what you'd expect.
Upgrades and features:
Lifted suspension with heavy-duty shocks
Disc brakes all round, including a disc handbrake
Sump guard and wheel spacers
Exmoor Trim Saddle Tan leather seats – heated, but not yet wired in
Exmoor Trim Defeater heavy-duty matting – helps with cabin noise
Raptor Engineering binnacle, console dash, and extended fuse box
Touchscreen radio – included but unfitted, some wiring still required
CB radio with aerial – mounted behind the cubby box
Light bar – was working before we rewired for the radio, just not reconnected yet
Console switches – installed but not currently wired to anything
Union Jack wrap on the roof – we didn’t do it, but we grew to like it
Exmoor Trim canvas sand-coloured ¾ hood – boxed and ready to replace the heavy-duty PVC hood currently fitted
Rhino seat covers
Momo Prototipo Heritage steering wheel with Optimill Quick Release System
Optimill Swivel Lock for steering security
Optimill reversing camera number plate light
Mechanical work and extras:
Rebuilt turbo – fitted in 2022
New heater matrix, fan, and cables – fitted in 2023
New seat belts – fitted in 2024
All four wheel bearings and hub seals replaced in 2022 (Front nearside has just started leaking again)
Replacement viscous fan – fitted in 2025
Winchester Gears Defender TDI LT230 Transfer Box – fitted in 2022
- RoamerDrive high-capacity sump
- Standard 1. 4 ratio
- Heavy-duty intermediate and rear output shafts
- Standard centre diff
New front pads and discs – 2022
Paddock Spares recon PAS box with drop arm – 2022
New washer pump – 2022
Mobile Storage Systems slimline Defender storage chest – fitted in the rear
LED Lights all round
Various welding works completed over the past few years
Serviced and MOT’d regularly by a well-known and trusted independent Land Rover specialist
MOT valid until 10th September 2025
This isn’t a shiny showpiece – it’s a capable, characterful, and endlessly entertaining classic Defender with the kind of personality you just can’t fake. If you want perfect paintwork and faultless electrics, this probably isn’t for you. But if you want something real, with a solid spec and proper use behind it – this could be your next adventure. This isn’t a show pony – it’s a brilliant, character-packed Defender that does exactly what a Defender should. We've had Landys in our lives for years and we bought it because we wanted something that felt exciting to drive – something we could use and improve, not just polish. It’s served us brilliantly and has become part of the family alongside our Series III.
What makes it special is how well it blends rugged practicality with smart upgrades. You’ll find upgraded brakes, suspension, and gear changes that actually feel precise (apart from the reverse!) – rare for a 1990s Landy. Add in leather seats, proper sound deadening, and a more modern dash layout, and it strikes a great balance between utility and comfort (ish – it’s still a Defender).
It’s endlessly capable off-road, has more presence than most cars on the road, and has that unbeatable, mechanical, agricultural feel that people buy Defenders for in the first place. It’s a talking point wherever it goes, with plenty of quirks, charm, and stories built in.
Our favourite thing? Honestly, probably the Momo steering wheel and quick-release setup – it feels great to drive, and there's something oddly satisfying about removing the wheel when you park, plus the added security of the Optimill Swivel Lock. That, or the sound it makes trundling through the woods – pure mechanical joy.
If you want something modern and faultless, this isn’t for you. But if you’re after a genuine, personality-filled, real-world Defender with proper upgrades and a strong mechanical base – you’ll fall for it like we did.
