• recently recommissioned ex-Military Land Rover 90 in eminently useable condition

• An interesting service record having been used by 7 Para and the Royal Military Police

• A very useable Land Rover with diesel reliability and economy along with desirable power steering and five speed gearbox

The Land Rover 90 was ushered in as the start of the venerable Defender range. 

Replacing the ubiquitous Series Land Rovers, the 90 offered the user a host of useful enhancements and refinements over the, now, rather old-fashioned Series vehicles.

Notably these improvements included a coil sprung suspension for improved ride and axle articulation, a more modern single piece windscreen, plastic arch extensions to accommodate the wider track and a permanent four-wheel-drive system adopted from the Range Rover.

As with previous Land Rovers, the 90 and the longer 110 were readily adopted by the Military with examples being utilised by virtually every branch of the services.

Being an ex-Military Land Rover it is possible to establish some interesting provenance around this vehicle. It was commissioned to service in 1992 as a “Truck UTY Light GS Cargo Soft Top 12V 4x4 Land Rover 90 (DSL)” and went straight to the Central Army Vehicle Depot at Ashchurch. 

From there the vehicle was deployed to 7 Para in February 1993, staying with them until November 1997 when it was transferred to the Royal Military Police. In 2005 the Land Rover was transferred to the Defence School of Policing and Guarding where it ended its service in 2011.

Since becoming a civilian vehicle the Land Rover has had two owners only, with the current owner acquiring it earlier this year. As a Land Rover specialist, the current owner has fastidiously returned the Land Rover to a military specification with the following work.

Sanded and painted the land Rover in Military specification pain. New badges and stickers applied. A new Exmoor canvas hood and hoops fitted. Fitting of a Wolf bonnet Pioneer kit along with Wolf light guards and rear step. Refurbishment of the Wolf military steel wheels. Addition of a rear swingaway and brand new tyre.

The Land Rover has also had a recent fluids and filters service and the owner reports everything works as it should.

There is a good level of paperwork to accompany the Land Rover. We have photographed a portion of this paperwork and most of it covers the ownership of the current and previous owner who have both been fastidious about the maintenance of this vehicle.

Paperwork included the current V5 along with numerous paper MOT’s and associated schedules of work and invoices.

For obvious reasons the interior of a Military Land Rover is spartan but extremely hard wearing. As you will see from our photographic package, the interior is clean and original with good seats, steering wheel and gear and transfer box levers.

The dash binnacle features a KPH speedometer with MPH marked as a secondary scale, suggesting that this vehicle saw service overseas, most likely with 7 Para. The rear cabin is in good undented condition and the new hood benefits from new support hoops.

In our opinion the exterior of this Land Rover 90 achieves that difficult blend of excellent presentation and originality. The paintwork and bodywork maintain an authentic Military finish with some ripples and small dings evident which is entirely appropriate to the age and provenance of this vehicle.

The Wolf additions by the current owner, along with the new badges and stickers, lift this Land Rover above the norm and present very well indeed.

Military vehicle maintenance is “by the book” as you would expect and in common with many peace-time military vehicles, this Land Rover was likely “lightly used yet rigorously maintained” during its period of service.

The civilian owners have maintained that scrupulous maintenance tradition too as can be witnessed by the paperwork bundle. It is no surprise then that the mechanical systems of this Land Rover all seem to operate as expected. We witnessed the Land Rover starting and driving during our visit and can report a lack of smoke or any obvious mechanical issues.

The low range gears and diff lock as reported as working fully and the vehicle benefits from a five speed gearbox, 12v electrics and power steering to provide a very practical mechanical package for the new owner.

This Land Rover appears to have it all. A recent military specification renovation and a highly practical set of attributes as detailed above. The addition of the Wolf Pioneer pack, light guards, mast bases, wheels and step really then give this vehicle something extra still.

This is a highly durable vehicle with a proud military record and ready now to provide enjoyment and utility to a lucky new owner.

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