Highlights
- Very rare ex-military vehicle initially built for the Royal Marines
- Extensive heavy-duty upgrades fitted for military use
- Thought to be 1 of only 67 Remus examples of the Winter Water
- Removable fibreglass roof
The Appeal
The Land Rover Defender, arguably the best 4x4 built and
certainly one of the most renowned. While very competent
in its original format, understandably the Royal Marines
needed something even more rugged and capable. Thus,
the Wolf Winter Water was born, based on a L316 Land
Rover Defender 90 but heavily re-worked from the ground
up.
The 300TDI engine was chosen due to its reliability, simple
electronics over successors which meant a better wade
depth and the fact that Royal Marine mechanics were
already familiar with its format. Designed to work at -50
degrees Celsius and wade to windscreen depth, the
following upgrades show that Land Rover understood the
assignment. Military spec tyres and steel rims were fitted as
standard for strength and simplicity.
The steel chassis was also fully treated against corrosion,
receiving Dinitrol injection within. The Remus variant was
an even higher spec model for the Royal Marines, boasting
Webasto rear oil heaters, engine oil heater, short throw
gearbox, updated rear axle, infrared insulation, sound
deadening and a raised top mount air intake with fuel
breather. A ski rack was also fitted as well as an escape
hatch, bonnet mounted tools and a roll cage. Furthermore,
examples with the removable fibreglass roof are even rarer than the soft top variant.
It's fair to say that the Wolf Winter Water took the already very capable Defender and
converted it to be the best and meanest off roader possible. If it's good enough for the
Royal Marines, then it will surely be good enough for you!
Vehicle specification
Year 1999
Make Land Rover
Model Defender
Colour Green
Odometer 67,588 miles (108,142 Kilometres on odometer) on 14th May 2026
The History and Paperwork
- MOT until 01/10/2026 with no advisories
- Manufactured 08/06/1999 for the Ministry of Defence with MOD history
- First registered as a civilian vehicle to the buyer’s company name and later transferred into
- his personal name in the UK 01/04/2021Selling to purchase car for teenage son
- Current owner purchased the vehicle 01/10/2021 directly from L Jackson and Co, who sell
- on behalf of Ministry of Defence
- Purpose built for the MOD to function at -50 degrees Celsius and wade up to 1.5m
- Engine restored by the military 02/09/2009
- 50,000km, thought to have had an engine rebuild and any damage / heavily worn areas
- repaired or replaced
- Presented in Nato Green with the exception of the engine painted in Blue Duck Egg paint,
- done as standard during restoration
- MOD history plus the current owner has kept all service history from private ownership
- Last serviced 04/10/2025 and current owner advises the
- vehicle will be serviced again prior to sale
- New exhaust centre box and tailpipe fitted 23/03/2023 and autumn 2025 respectively
- Being a Remus example there are the following
- upgrades: R380 5 speed gearbox, transfer box with hi/lo ratio and centre diff lock, Exmoor
- front seats, and genuine Exmoor Wolf rear bench seats
- anti-vibration acoustic matting, front and rear disc brakes,
- 24V electronics, power assisted steering, roll cage,
- heavy duty chassis and axles
- side mounted full size spare wheel
- NATO tow hitch and cold climate thermal insulation
- Ski Rack also fitted to the roof
- Racking for radio equipment and rifle holders were removed prior to current ownership
- Spare bonnet trim and top cyclone snorkel air filter included with vehicle
- Date In Service Certificate included with vehicle
- Overall, a very good condition example of a rare ex-military vehicle
The Interior
- Exmoor front seats remain in excellent condition
- Roll cage fitted as standard
- The interior of this Wolf Winter Water remains in very good
- to excellent condition overall. The front Exmoor seats are
- without any rips or tears and were possibly replaced during the restoration in 2015 due to
- their very good condition.
- The dashboard offers a map reading light and warning light cover for use when in convoy
- mode.
- The exterior lights are switchable for use during convoy when lights need to be kept to a
- minimum.
- The current owner has had rear seatbelts fitted. The rear bench seats are Exmoor Wolf
- seats with no rips or damage.
- Webasto oil heaters also present under the benches to help keep all occupants warm.
- The RF insulation is present, intact and in very good
- condition as is the roll cage.
- The steering wheel is showing some signs of wear and has a cover included.
- the dashboard fuse box cover is missing
- apart from these minor details all other interior features are reported to function as
- expected
- Finally, the current owner has had a battery cut off switch fitted.THE EXTERIOR
- Nato Green paintwork remains in good to very good
- condition
- 4 relatively new (18 months old) matching Goodyear G90 off-road tyres all with excellent
- tread
- Matching Nato Green steel rims remain in good condition, with minor corrosion around the
- wheel nuts
- Rare Remus example with removable fibreglass roof and escape hatch
- It's clear from the exterior that this Wolf Winter Water means business. The Nato Green
- paintwork has possibly been resprayed in 2015 during restoration and remains in
- good to very good condition overall
- there is a small dent to the near side front wing and some chips and scratches present
- throughout but these are very minimal given the original military condition of this vehicle.
- Bonnet mounted tools are included and remain in good condition as does the full-size
- side mounted spare wheel.
- The fibreglass roof is removable which also has an escape hatch, both of which were
- standard on the rarer Remus examples.
- A ski rack is also mounted to the roof which remains in good condition
- Finally, this example also possesses the desirable Nato tow hitch mounted to the rear
- bumper.
The Mechanics
- 2.5L 300TDI engine mated to an R380 5-speed manual gearbox
- Hi/lo ratio gearbox with centre differential lock
- Heavy duty chassis and axles
- 24V electrics with front and rear disc brakes fitted
- The MOD opted for the tried and tested 300TDI engines for
- their Wolf Winter Waters, this example was reportedly
- restored in 2015 and received an engine rebuild hence the
- Blue Duck Egg paint. The engine starts and runs well free
- from any knocks, bangs or smoke. The heavy-duty chassis
- was injected with Dinitrol to help combat corrosion prior to
- entering service and the axles were also uprated to handle
- more extreme terrain and loads.24-volt electrics were standard for the Winter Wolf Waters,
- giving for better functionality in the field. Further upgrades
- include vented front and rear disc brakes and power assisted
- steering, both of which are very desirable for the driver. A
- raised top mount air intake with fuel breather and
- waterproofing of all switches and electronics mean this
- example has no problem when wading, for which it was designed. For colder weather
- there is a Webasto oil heater in the rear and for the engine oil fitted which is reported to
- function as expected. The last service was carried out late 2025. The water pump, belts,
- fuel return pipes and all oil vent pipes replaced.
- The fuel lift pump and has also been replaced, alongside cleaning of the fuel sedimenter
- during the current ownership
- This Defender is no different from all Defenders, particularly of this vintage, in that there are
- the usual minor engine oil weeps around the oil filter and sump.SUMMARY
- This rare Wolf Winter Water, Remus variant is presented in
- very good condition overall. The already capable Defender
- was heavily modified and upgraded for the most rugged
- military use which can now be enjoyed by private owners.
- The current owner has taken great care of this example
- which can be seen in its condition. Furthermore, a service
- was carried out last year. As ex-military examples
- go, this Remus variant is not only one of the rarer but more
- desirable given its condition. Now comes the time for this
- fine example of the ultimate off roader with a military history to find its new home!
Summary
This rare Wolf Winter Water, Remus variant is presented in
very good condition overall. The already capable Defender
was heavily modified and upgraded for the most rugged
military use which can now be enjoyed by private owners.
The current owner has taken great care of this example
which can be seen in its condition. Furthermore, a service
was carried out last year. As ex-military examples
go, this Remus variant is not only one of the rarer but more
desirable given its condition.
Now comes the time for this
Now comes the time for this
fine example of the ultimate off roader with a military history to find its new home!
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