Description
1997 LAND ROVER DEFENDER 90 300 TDI LHD
Make: Land Rover
Model: Defender 90
Year: 1997
VIN: SALLDVA68VA118352
Reg No: SS0310AZ (ES)
Engine: 2. 5 Litre 300 TDI Diesel
Transmission: 5-Speed Manual
Mileage: 102, 151 Miles
Colour: Alpine White
Steering Side: LHD
The Car
First registered in San Sebastián, Spain on 4th September 1997, and delivered by Rover España, S. A. It remained with its first owner in the San Sebastián area until November 2001 when it was purchased by its second owner and relocated to the Basque Country in northern Spain. The vehicle was repatriated to the United Kingdom in July 2023, where a comprehensive but considerate refurbishment was undertaken. Starting with a highly original Alpine White Defender with entirely original paint, it presented a fabulous starting point for the renovation. The objective was to preserve the originality of this Defender's body while bringing things up-to-date.
The vehicle has been cosmetically refreshed with new plastic trim and rubber seals where necessary, along with the fitting of all stainless-steel and zinc-plated exterior fastenings. This creates an OEM+ appearance that's complemented by Wolf black wheels finished with matching Goodyear MT/ R 235/ 85/ 16 tires. The interior of the vehicle has also been entirely re-trimmed with NAS Denim Twill seating both front and rear, along with rear lap belts for a four-person occupancy. This is completed upfront with a premium NAS Denim Twill cubby box for comfort. Land Rover Genuine rubber matting is fitted throughout, along with a TD5-style rear door card and Exmoor cargo storage roll for the interior rear bulkhead.
Underneath, the chassis has been fully stripped and treated with Dinotrol products. This involves a cleaning, degreasing, and sanding preparation of the chassis surface, followed by the application of RC900 rust inhibitor and a coating of ML inside and outside of the chassis. Once cured, two top coats of 4941 are applied. Additionally, the rear crossmember has been stripped to bare metal and refinished with high zinc primer and two coats of satin topcoat. The suspension rebuild has included new OEM springs and Bilstein B6 - Performance Shock Absorbers, new mounts, A-Frame Ball Joint, and Radius Arm Poly Bushings. Heavy-Duty Steering Bars and a Bilstein Steering Damper have been added. Mechanically, the vehicle will benefit from a major service, including a cambelt replacement and all fluid changes upon sale.
Structurally, the vehicle is in exceptional condition. The chassis is a true testament to its time in Northern Spain and benefits from zero corrosion repairs to the frame, along with a factory-original crossmember. Not something that many Defenders can boast about. The chassis has never been separated from the body, which is another testament to its originality. It has been fully cleaned and treated for longevity.
This Defender is located in London, UK. We can facilitate a sale in the United States and supply the vehicle titled, as well as arrange for collection from our Pennsylvania facility. Please don't hesitate to inquire for further details.
History of the Land Rover
The Land Rover Series range was launched in 1948 and the model, now known as the Defender, was launched in 1983 and the continuous run finished in January 2016, after 67 years. Land Rovers were inspired by the US-built Willys Jeep immediately after the war and by 1992 they claimed that 70% of all the vehicles they had ever built were still in use. The Defender and Series ranges have had a unique international presence throughout the production run, having been exported, manufactured, and produced under license by a number of other manufacturers in a variety of markets, including Australia, Southern, and North Africa, Turkey, Brazil, Pakistan, and Malaysia, to name just a few. In 1993 Land Rover decided to take the plunge into the US market after their successful launch of the Range Rover brand in 1987 in order to offer an upmarket alternative to the Jeep Wrangler targeted at adventurous buyers. Land Rover finally had to retract their offering from the North American and Canadian markets in 1997 due to economic viability. The Defenders offered in the US during the 90?s had to be significantly modified in comparison to Land Rover?s other export markets. Subsequent federal safety regulation amendments finally withdrew the Defender from the US market entirely in 1997, with Land Rover throwing their attention towards upmarket Discovery and Range Rover models that were being built from the ground up.
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