Description
Make: Land Rover
Model: Defender 90
Year: 1996
VIN: SALLDVA68VA104673
Reg No: ZA680DD (I)
Engine: 2. 5 Litre 300 TDI Diesel
Transmission: 5-Speed Manual
Mileage: TBC Cica 240k kms
Colour: Alpine White
Steering Side: LHD
The Car
First registered in Firenze, Florence, Italy on 19th December 1996, and delivered by Land Rover English Car of Firenze. English Car are amazingly still the franchise dealer for JLR in Firenze. A quick Google reveals they still use the same phone number ending 4466 that’s mentioned on the dealer fitted rear wheel cover along with still being based on Via Empoli. The Defender has remained under single family ownership in Firenze until we purchased in November 2023. The negotiations of this purchase were somewhat record worthy. The Defender first surfaced back in October 2022 after our Italian friend Alessandro mentioned it was available. After some quick discussions it was soon apparent it was an ideal vehicle for us to take into stock. Unfortunately, quick and simple anecdotes like that rarely go smoothly. The owner’s son was handling the sale on behalf of his father. Reading between the lines it had been the sole family car for well over two decades. As such the Defender had great sentimental value and wasn’t something easy for the family to let go. After much back-and-forth it took only 13 months for us to successfully complete the purchase!
Finished in the quintessential export colour of Alpine White with denim twill seating. The vehicle represents in exceptional original condition with entirely original factory paint and interior trim. The vehicle wears a set of white steel rims complete with a matching set of Goodyear MT/ R 235/ 85/ 16 tires.
Structurally the Defender is one of the very best. A sure sign is the condition of the rear crossmember, which is not only corrosion free but also factory original. Not something many Defenders can boast about. As are all the door frames which have not suffered from any corrosion. Uniquely there is a lack of aluminium galvanic corrosion throughout the vehicle, particularly on the door skins which is a prone area.
Mechanically the vehicle is fully functional and in roadworthy condition. It would make an ideal weekend classic. However is more than up to the task of daily use. Its recently benefited from a new steering damper and replacement steering arm with drop link. The clutch and brake pads and discs are showing signs of needing replacement as well as the rear A-frame ball joint which is looking perished. We are selling the vehicle in its current condition. However, can accommodate any remedial work or improvements any potential buyer may require.
The chassis has not been treated. From visual inspection it is evident it has not been treated with any rust preventative products in the past. Again, a testament to its condition.
Supplied with its original documents and handbooks in addition to its European registration document, Heritage Certificate and clean Carfax.
This Defender is located at our European warehouse. We can facilitate a sale in the United States and assist with vehicle titling, 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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