Vehicle Description
If you have someplace remote to get to, this 1990 Land Rover
Defender 90 is the right tool for the job. Nicely finished with
neat black paint and a bulletproof diesel powerplant, it's ready to
enjoy regardless of whether you take it on the asphalt 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. The black paint has a
traditional look, and the sheetmetal underneath is certainly
straight for its age. That means it hasn't been abused or bashed
off-roading, and you know it was hard to resist. 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 grille and bumper up
front, and who doesn't love the adventurous look of the tire
mounted in the rear and the roll cage and matching soft top?
Nothing extraneous or flashy, just pure form following function.
Too cool.
Inside it's not quite as plain inside as you'd expect, with twin
black bucket seats up front and traditional Land Rover side-facing
benches in back. Rubber mats and simple door panels suggest that
the Defender means business, and yes, it's obviously a British-spec
vehicle with right-hand drive (This Defender was not imported to
the US in 1990 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 a Bluetooth stereo.
The cargo bay offers a huge amount of room and all that open 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 has just 125,502 miles on the clock 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 stock suspension components throughout. Black 5-spoke
wheels with BFGoodrich All-Terrain off-road radials give it an
updated look and improved rock-climbing capabilities.
Nicely kept 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!