1990 Land Rover Defender 90

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!