The Land Rover scene is booming at the moment – six years since the last original Defender rolled off the Birmingham production line. 

And with good quality Defenders in demand more than ever, it's no surprise that those that are on the market are making very strong money.

After all, the Defender is a vehicle with universal appeal, and thanks to a production run of almost 60 years there are plenty of examples to choose from – all desirable and all worth investing in. 

For some people, originality is key, but for others it’s all about personalisation and given that the Defender, 90, 110 or whatever variant you wish it to be is essentially a giant Meccano kit on chunky wheels, you can make it whatever you want it to be.

That’s what the previous owner of this one did, using the 300TDI and automatic transmission from a Discovery in the  body of an early 110 to create his own completely bespoke vehicle. 

He then had it painted in a hammer-finish ‘Raptor’ paint, the kind of material used for truck beds, and created a bespoke interior using the seats from a Mazda RX-8. The result is a beastly looking vehicle with a unique appeal. It’s a very cool thing…

Registered in 1983, this would originally have been one of the very first One-Ten Station Wagons supplied by Land Rover.

It was, however, a working truck and while a preserved ’83 One-Ten would be a hugely collectable thing these days, this one has had pretty much everything replaced, time-and-time again…

The previous owner before the vendor built it himself, having been given the truck by a family member. He was a young chap, and he stamped his own mark on the Land Rover. 

The chassis had been overhauled some time previously, so he added a lift kit and elected to equip it with a 300 TDi auto set-up, presumably sourced from a late 1990s Discovery. 

The engine was fully rebuilt, the interior built to his own specification and the bodywork painted, with bills running into the thousands. Around £5,500 has been spent in the past year alone. 

Included with the Land Rover is a file full of bills covering the build, as well as a further receipt for recent maintenance work. Since the engine build was completed, it has covered less than 150 miles. 

In total, the work totals well over £8,000 in the past three years. Work carried out includes a new battery, electric overhaul, fan system, sump pan kit and a cambelt service.

It is supplied with two keys and a UK V5 in the name of the current owner. It’s also old enough to qualify for export to the USA.

The body was extensively restored when the truck was rebuilt and is finished in a charcoal grey ‘crackle-finish’ Raptor paint, of the type used to pain truck bodies. It’s a tough and resilient material and offers great protection, as well as looking deeply cool.

It has wider arches fitted along with ‘Boost’ alloy wheels, an expedition roof rack, ladder and side steps, along with roof rack lighting and a WIPAC rear light conversion to LEDs, and ‘halo’ LED front headlights. It’s subtle but looks fantastic. It also has a swing-away rear wheel carrier and factory-spec rear mudflaps. 

Four new doors were fitted at the time of its rebuild and the bulkhead upper corners have been professionally repaired.

Inside, the Defender has evolved somewhat since it was built! It’s a four-seater (with extra benches in the boot to carry up to eight, but only four in comfort!). 

The seats themselves are from a Mazda RX-8 and are astonishingly comfortable, especially by Land Rover standards. They’re also heated. In addition, the cabin is leak-free and fully sound proofed, with a panoramic glass roof and remote central locking. 

It has a North American spec centre console and integrated USB ports, while the Smiths dials have chrome rings. The original speedometer has been swapped for a digital GPS-based unit which reads in knots as well as mph, just so you can, well, talk about it…

Sounds come courtesy of a dual-DIN Bluetooth Sony head unit with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – quite something considering that when the truck was built in 1983, an Android was something you read about in Douglas Adams books and the mobile telephone didn’t really exist. 

Land Rovers, though? They looked the same. Of course they did. 

The dash and door trims have a diamond stitch leather facing to round things off.

Under the bonnet you'll find a 1990s 300 TDI engine, which is one of the favourites among Land Rover fans for its durability and decent(ish) performance. 

It has been overhauled and given a new cambelt and oil service very recently, and has covered less than 150 miles since. The total mileage is unknown, but is believed to be around 180,000.

The transmission works well in both high and low ratios and the brakes suspension and steering were all overhauled as part of the Land Rover’s rebuild, with new bushes, shock absorbers, a steering guard, brake discs and pads and upgraded front and rear springs.

It appears to be in fine mechanical condition and is ready to be enjoyed by its next owner.

The popularity of Land Rover Defenders shows no signs of slowing down, which makes this example a very desirable thing.

As a 110 Station Wagon it's one of the most desirable variants and it has been built-up to a very high and great-looking standard, whilst being a 1983 registration it’s both export-friendly and also very soon to be tax and MOT exempt, eligible from next year. 

It is sold ready to go and in need of nothing, making it the perfect off-the-shelf Defender 110 adventure vehicle to enjoy right away. And you certainly won’t be disappointed!