Description

1989 Land Rover 90

Carefully maintained by one man throughout virtually all of its life; nicely original; nicely battle-scarred; nicely priced!

The Land Rover Defender (L316) was produced from 1983 – 2016 although it was only branded as the Defender from 1990 onwards to differentiate it from the new Discovery. A significant step up from the old Series III, it borrowed features from the Range Rover such as coil springs all round which greatly improved both ride quality and axle articulation compared to the leaf-sprung models of old. A two-speed transfer gearbox with a lockable centre differential gave permanent 4x4 capability and the wheel arches were extended to cover new wider-track axles.

Supplied new by Wadham Stringer of Southampton in January 1989 to a farmer near Salisbury, this 90 2.5 Turbodiesel Hardtop was to remain in that area for the next 30 years, always being looked after by the same local garage, Stephen Ogg Engineering of Downton, Wiltshire.

When Mr Ogg advertised the vehicle in December 2018, he stated the following: “This Defender was bought new by a local farmer and serviced by me virtually from go. It changed ownership to his wife when he died, I bought it when she died then sold it to a girl in our village who never used it off road. It sustained its agricultural patina while in the hands of its first owner who had a gammy leg and couldn’t use the brake pedal. The front LH wing bears evidence of meeting a farm wall and there are various incidents recorded on most of the body panels but it all works.

“The engine, gearbox, axles and all of it really, apart from service bits, are all original. In its lifetime it has had its oil changed on the dot, the cam belt changed at the correct intervals, a new starter or two, a fairly recent clutch, the fuel pump reconditioned and a service exchange power steering box.

“The engine, gearbox and axles have never been touched. The rear cross member is beginning to show signs of age and will probably need a bit of sprucing up for the next MOT. I don’t recall doing any welding on it. It is just a very (sort of) straight, honest 30-year-old Land Rover which has covered lots of miles [152,565] and never had any mods whatsoever.”

Our vendor bought the Defender from Mr Ogg just before Christmas 2018 and has added another couple of thousand miles, the odometer now showing 154,736 miles. He had the front seats recovered soon after he acquired the vehicle and also fitted a new water pump shortly before the auction. The original service book shows 12 stamps up to 60k miles in November 1993 when the book runs out of pages.

Driven some 40 miles to the sale, it has been starting promptly and running well as we have moved it around on site, with nicely light power steering. Supplied with two sets of keys, it also has the original owner’s handbook and service book, a few recent invoices, three old MOTs and a current MOT valid until October 2022 with just two minor advisories for cracking/perishing to both rear tyres.

The last of the separate chassis Land Rovers, these Defender L316 models have developed a cult following of late and values have risen rapidly. This well-maintained and pleasingly battle-scarred example looks like a no-brainer at the modest guide price suggested.

For more information contact James on 07970 309907 or email james.dennison@brightwells.com