Description
1985 Land Rover Ninety, rare early AA prefix chassis number.
I’ve had this car since November 2021, unfortunately I am just not using it enough so I’ve decided to part with it. 128k miles, I’ve put around 20k miles on it in the 4 years I’ve had it, I’ve driven it all over the country and it has never let me down.
I’ve known of this car for over 10 years, the previous 3 owners are friends of mine which gave me the confidence to buy it knowing it was a good Land Rover.
Painted in the lesser seen Masai Red, which was only available for the first few months of Land Rover Ninety production, this particular car started out as a 2. 5 n/ a diesel van, but has had windows and rear seats added at some point, and a Discovery 200Tdi professionally installed (invoices present) in around 2010.
Bulkhead is solid. All of the original galvanised parts are still present on the car including the roof gutters (usually painted over when being resprayed), the roof is also the early ribbed type.
Tyres are 235/ 85 R16 Goodyear MT/ Rs, been on the car for about 15k miles and plenty of tread left. They’re mounted on Defender TDCi rims which means you can run tubeless tyres.
Massive service history file with nearly every invoice, receipt & MOT going back 15 years. Main highlights include a new clutch around 25k miles ago, receipts for outrigger welding in 2021, new clutch slave and master cylinder in 2022 at 111k miles, new starter motor, front and rear props, gearbox/ transfer box and diff oils in 2024, aux belts & cambelt + water pump fitted in 2024 (I don’t have the receipt for this, but can put you in touch with the specialist who fitted it for me), new uprated battery & earth lead fitted earlier in 2025.
I’ve changed the oil in it every year or max 5k miles while I’ve had it, I’ve only used genuine Land Rover parts when servicing it. A genuine Land Rover fuel filter was also fitted earlier this year. Last serviced around 1000 miles ago in August 2025.
Needs some work to get back to its very best, but the car is priced accordingly. Will need either a new rear crossmember or ¼ chassis (you might be able to repair it), track rod ends require replacement (I have the parts but not fitted), the handbrake doesn’t work and the driver and passenger doors have small holes in the bottom corners (these can be repaired with available replacement parts), there are some bubbles on the paintwork on the front wings which have been there since I’ve had the car, they’ve not gotten any worse in my ownership. It leaks oil in the usual places, but nothing excessive. The dash fan is also controlled by a button in the centre console rather than the lever on the instrument binnacle, but it all operates fine (heater is actually pretty good for a Defender!). Upper dash is uncracked and lower dash is all complete but someone in the past has unhelpfully put a lit cigarette lighter over it a few times.
It’s MOT exempt being over 40 years old, and will be Road Tax exempt from April next year! Heritage certificate comes with vehicle too.
Pictures show a storage box in the rear, this can go with the car for full asking price (cost me £600 new).
Drives well for an old Land Rover, please don’t expect a concours restored example but you will find a nice, honest well priced Land Rover which needs a little TLC but will give you great service. I've loved and enjoyed this car for 4 years.
Very unusual in Masai Red, which really drew me in as it was always my favourite colour on the 2 door Range Rover. Early March 1985 build, so probably one of the very last built in this colour.
Everyone recognises and waves at you, I'm lucky to have spent some time in some very nice cars and I've never had as many positive comments as I have had with this car, people really like it whether they like cars or not.
