Nicely finished Japanese-spec Land Rover Defender 90. Converted to left-hand-drive with MPH speedometer. Runs and drives extremely well, super clean bodywork and interior. A legendary off-roader with an upscale feel.

Land Rover Defenders were so good at going to remote places, the company sponsored an off-road competition (the Camel Trophy) to see who could get the most out of their evergreen 4x4. Owning one of these means you have the luxury of going just about anywhere you want, whenever you want, regardless of road conditions. Perhaps that’s the ultimate luxury. This handsome Coniston Green Defender 90 was originally shipped to Japan but was imported to the US when the 25-year exemption rolled around. It was converted to left-hand-drive and has a correct miles-per-hour speedometer, and it’s worth noting that the Japanese spec was the same as the North American spec aside from these two changes. Someone obviously spent a great deal of money on the paint and bodywork, which is exceptional, and the heavy-duty diamond-plate type accents only enhance the durable off-road look. The Defender 90 is the archetypal Land Rover, compact but muscular and ready to tackle just about anything, and the 2-door wagon body style emphasizes that image. The aluminum bodywork is straight and clean, with factory spot welds and rivets still clearly visible in all the right places. The contrasting white hardtop provides great weather protection, as well as a roof that can store equipment with easy access thanks to a rear-mounted ladder. Other cool details include the tubular brush guard up front, a matching roll cage around the front passenger compartment and windshield, as well as the rear-mounted spare. Everywhere you look there are cool little details that suggest someone was really thinking about using these trucks in a harsh environment—it looks built for anything.

The cloth interior is a nice step up from the usual vinyl upholstery and aside from the switch to left-hand drive and a MPH speedo, it remains very much as Land Rover built it. The seating position is commanding with excellent sight lines in every direction, and while it isn’t exactly luxurious, it feels built for a purpose. Controls are robust, the big gauges are easy to read, and all the critical shifters for the transmission and transfer case are right where you need them. But then there are the supportive bucket seats, plush carpets, and thick steering wheel, which make the Defender feel at home on suburban streets. There are fold-up jump seats in back that will ostensibly hold four passengers. There’s an upgraded Alpine AM/FM/USB stereo head unit stashed in the center console and you’ll be relieved to learn that the A/C works (although British A/C isn’t the most effective in the world). Other notable features include a sunroof overhead, cupholders galore, and a padded internal roll bar to match the exterior units. Fold the rear seats up and you get massive cargo capacity, making the Defender 90 fairly practical as far as uber off-roaders go.

The engine is a 4.0-liter version of the all-aluminum Buick V8 that the Rover group bought from GM back in the 1960s. Fitted with modern fuel injection and electronic ignition, it’s extremely user-friendly, offering quick starts, an easy idle, and plenty of torque to make the Defender feel quick around town and invincible in the rough. The industrial-strength engine bay offers off-road-ready hardware, including a massive air cleaner mounted up high, and enclosures for things like the heater system. A giant radiator up front means climbing at a walking pace doesn’t stress the engine, and there’s a pleasing V8 burble from the tailpipe. The 4-speed automatic transmission shifts cleanly and offers a tall overdrive for easy cruising, and the massive axles at both ends have 3.54 gears inside, a nice compromise between capability and comfort. Coil springs all around offer maximum articulation and important bits like the transmission, transfer case, and exhaust system are all tucked up inside the frame for maximum protection. There’s also a massive disc brake at all four corners and recent Bilstein shocks all around. 16-inch aluminum wheels carry beefy 265/75/16 off-road radials, which actually ride rather well.

Extras include a full set of books and manuals, a Japanese-language brochure, some spare parts, the original Km/h speedometer, and a pile of receipts for all the recent work.

Still one of the most effective off-road tools you can own, the Defender 90 is also a red-hot collectors’ item. You’ll note that this one has a very specific number (#481), which translates to a desirable vehicle with limited production status. Add in the many Land Rovers that were beaten to death on the trail or met their end in a harsh climate, and finding one this nice is no easy task. Take a closer look then give us a call!

Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.