Land Rover® Defender 90 *Galv Chassis Ragtop -HIGH SPEC* (ACV)

For sale, Land Rover® Defender 90 Ragtop in Masai Red (1997). 

300TDI Diesel. MOT with no advisories until 6th April 2027. 117,835 miles – just 4000 miles a year since new. LED Clear Light Kit including Front DRLs. Black Bumper with Rubber End Caps. Front Diff Guard. Tornado Black Alloys. Cooper Discoverer Tyres. Front High Back Seats. Central Cubby Box with Cupholders. Front Heated Screen. Electric Windows. USB & 12v Charging. Stereo & Speakers with Bluetooth. Inertia Reel Belts. Power Steering. Front Disc Brakes. Deluxe Trim Set. Side Opening Rear Tailgate. Rear Mud Flaps. New Black Canvas with Side Windows (Exmoor Trim). Sun Visors. Immobiliser with Remote Fob. Tow Ball and Electrics. Forward Facing Rear Seats.

We are delighted to present for sale this 1997 Defender 90, which has an absolutely incredible spec, including the famed (low mileage) 300TDI engine. This vehicle was sold to us by a real Land Rover® enthusiast, who kept a detailed record of the works he carried out on the vehicle, and has only sold this to us due to space constraints and needing to reduce the amount of Land Rovers® in his personal collection.

Externally, as the photos show, this Defender 90 is a handsome thing – with Masai Red bodywork, and black detailing – from the new black canvas from Exmoor Trim, to the Tornado alloy wheels with Cooper Discoverer tyres, black chequer plate wing tops and front black bumper with rubber end caps , black side rail steps – etc etc. There are a raft of further features one would want to see, such as a full LED lamp kit for improved visibility and reliability, as well as rear mud flaps to keep the dirt down and tow bar with electrics to allow towing, should it be needed. These are just the headlines in truth – we are sure a discerning buyer can see the further included items – but should a customer want guiding through the remainder, please feel free to get in touch… we do try to keep these adverts to the point wherever possible – but we do think that it is “fully loaded” as one could realistically expect.

On the inside, there are a pair of front deluxe high back seats in Techno trim, with central cubby box, complete with cup holders. 3 point inertia belts are fitted for safety and for “plug and play” ability. This is just the tip of the iceberg in relation to internal spec – from the OEM floor mats, to the electric windows, electric heated front screen (handy for winter and a complete game changer for defrosting), USB and 12v chargers, Kenwood Stereo with dash mounted speakers and bluetooth, sun visors, and internal door pulls. Deluxe trim is fitted as per the photos, and the whole package makes this a pleasant place to sit. The rear tail gate is side opening, and the rear is fitted with a pair of forward facing rear seats, which can accept child car seats. This brings seating for up to four adults, in forward facing comfort. Also fitted is an OEM (very expensive) load mat which covers the sides and floor against damage. An immobiliser with a remote key fob is fitted for additional security. The canvas is a quick release, zip type, with side windows for added visibility and it affords extra light to the inside, which is welcome. It is a lovely place to be when out driving, whether in the front or the back.

Out on the road, this drives as well as one can really expect a Defender 90 to do so – the low mileage 300TDI engine is a dream and pulls well – power steering and disc brakes, alongside the five speed gearbox and coil springs means the best possible driving experience. This is one of the very last “mechanical” Defender 90s – in the next model year, the TD5 was introduced and this brought the introduction of ECUs and OBD readers, which are not preferred due to the sensors involved & the need for scanning tools. There is nothing on this vehicle, despite the creature comforts such as the bluetooth stereo, electric windows and heated seats which cannot be fixed with an £11 Haynes manual on your own drive – or by any garage with “old school” mechanics… rather than being a slave to the main dealer and paying extortionate labour rates! The 300TDI is barely run in at 117,000 miles – we’ve seen these with verified mileages of 3x this figure with just routine servicing.

As mentioned, the previous owner of this Land Rover® was a serious enthusiast and included, at our request, a detailed written list within the paperwork of the last 3 years and what he has carried out during this time to keep the vehicle in the best possible condition – it is a credit to him that it has over 11 months MOT without advisories. This list is included for the new keeper and includes servicing, electrics checks and repairs, brake pads, fuel tanks, vacuum pipes, and general inspections and the dates carried out, including chassis and suspension checks. Of course, we have gone through it ourselves, and have backed it with our own warranty for the best possible peace of mind.

In summary, if you are looking for a 300TDI Defender 90 for summer fun with the family, which can also keep you warm all year round as a real work horse – this has to be worth consideration. With the added bonus of the far lower (less than half) road tax rate of the later TD5, without the complicated onboard electronics which tend to plague later variants as they get older – this represents a great opportunity to get into a well-priced Defender which isn’t without the modern touches to which we’ve become accustomed.

Priced at £23,995