Vehicle Description
If you have someplace remote to get to, this 1984 Land Rover
Defender 90 is the right tool for the job. Freshly refinished with
beautiful green paint and a rebuilt diesel powerplant, it's ready
to enjoy regardless of whether you take it to shows or get it dirty
in the mud.
Looking at the lines of the Defender 90, you know it was built for
a purpose, not to be beautiful. That's not to say that there isn't
beauty in the functionality, because nobody has yet come up with
anything that goes through the brush better than this. There are
Landies in every corner of the globe doing unbelievable things, and
this one seems eager to join them. Someone spent a good deal of
money on the green paint, so it has a traditional look, and the
sheetmetal underneath is commendably straight. That means it hasn't
been abused or bashed off-roading, and you know the work wasn't
cheap. The doors fit nicely and while the face has changed a bit
since the early days, it's still undeniably a Land Rover. Big
plastic fender flares cover the oversized tires and there's a
simple brush guard up front, and who doesn't love the adventurous
look of the tire mounted on the hood and the white top with
built-in windows? Nothing extraneous or flashy, just pure form
following function. Too cool.
It's not as plain inside as you'd expect, with twin black leather
bucket seats up front and traditional Land Rover side-facing
benches in back. Rubber mats and simple plastic door panels suggest
that the Defender means business, and yes, it's obviously a
British-spec vehicle with right-hand drive (Defenders were not
imported to the US in 1984 but it is legal now that it's more than
25 years old). Factory gauges cover the basics and the controls
were designed to be interpreted by people of any culture, since
these were used around the world. The control levers manage the
5-speed manual transmission and 2-speed transfer case, and there's
a center console between the seats with cup holders and an AM/FM/CD
stereo radio. The cargo bay offers a huge amount of room and all
that glass area makes it bright and airy inside with great
visibility.
For reliability in the harshest conditions, there's simply nothing
that can beat a diesel. The 2.5 liter 4-cylinder diesel engine in
this Defender was just rebuilt 350 miles ago and runs superbly. It
clatters and shakes like a diesel, but the big hit of low-end
torque and tall gears in the axles make it feel lively around town,
if not necessarily fast. Row the 5-speed manual properly and it has
no problem running through traffic and it cruises easily at modern
highway speeds. The engine bay is obviously outfitted for harsh
conditions, including a heavy-duty air cleaner system, massive
radiator and fan assembly (dig that shroud!), and sealed braking
and fuel systems. It's not detailed for show under the hood, but
it's neat and clean and doesn't show signs of neglect, and that's
really what matters in a truck like this. Shift action is light,
the clutch take-up is clean, and with power steering and front disc
brakes, it feels quite competent on or off the pavement. The axles
look big enough for a semi tractor and there are recent suspension
components throughout. Oversized steel wheels with fresh 265/75/16
off-road radials give it an updated look and improved rock-climbing
capabilities.
Nicely finished and totally ready for an adventure, this Defender
is the truck you need if you really and truly want to live the
lifestyle. Call today!