Land Rover®️ 90 *Imminent Tax & MOT Exemption* (XLM)

For sale, Land Rover® 90 Ragtop in Drab Olive (1986).

2495cc Diesel. Will be supplied with 12 months MOT (last one required) – current MOT with no advisories until 9th September 2026. Ex-Military. Michelin 4×4 750 tyres with matching bonnet mounted spare. Aluminium Door Tops. Height Adjustable Tow Bar and Electrics. Stereo & Speakers. CB Radio. Rear Mud Flaps. Snorkel. Recent Canvas. Front Bullbar with Spot Lights. Cubby Box with Cup Holders. Rear Bumperettes. Military Screw Lenses. 153,000 miles – equating to just 3825 miles a year since new! Imminent MOT & Tax Exemption.

We are delighted to present for sale this early Land Rover® 90 – which will become MOT & Tax exempt in just 7 months time, on 1st January 2027 (under current rules). This particular example is an ex-military vehicle, with many additional and desirable extras – read on below!

As the photos show, this old girl really is a handsome thing – with all the features one would hope to see – the military screw lenses for easier bulb changes, recent canvas, Michelin 4×4 750 tyres for a better stance and gearing with a matching bonnet mounted spare, height adjustable tow pack with modern electrics to allow towing, bull bar with working spot lights for better visibility at night, snorkel to allow wading, rear mud flaps to keep the dirt down – the list goes on, and on, and on. It is nice to see the bodywork is in straight condition, with the original military style paintwork and red detailing – it looks just right, and we hope the photos do it justice.

On the inside, there are two outer front standard seats, with a central cubby box. Cupholders are provided which is handy for the drive through, and the cubby is useful for keeping items safely out of sight if so desired. There is a working stereo and speakers, so you can listen to music, which is very welcome, and a CB radio for keeping in contact with friends whilst out on the road. Those with a keen eye will see the hallmarks of a military past – the central convoy switch for controlling the headlights and side lights, and the map light in the dashboard in front of the passenger. Deluxe matting is fitted to the footwells. The rear is currently unfitted with the exception of a load mat, but bench seats could be fitted if desired for £595 to bring seating for six people including the driver.

So – why would you purchase this vehicle over a later Defender 90? As you may have gathered – we are glad you asked that question! Well, not only will this vehicle not attract a road tax bill in 2027, but it will also be exempted from MOT, which saves the hassle of a yearly test… particularly useful if you plan to keep this vehicle just for use in the winter months, or at a home away from home…. it can also be used abroad for 90 days a year on UK plates without re-registering it as these declarations can be done online. This is just one of the three major benefits though – one of the others being that this is a rugged, all mechanical engineering Land Rover® 90 – no ECU, and no OBD reader or need to scan it – and when one considers this feels like a modern Land Rover® to drive with coil springs, disc brakes and a five speed gearbox – one can see the obvious appeal. Whilst it is true that the 2.5NA diesel is not a speed machine, it makes up for this by being an exceptionally reliable unit, which are good for astronomical mileages – this one is barely run in, and we have seen them with mileages of over 500,000 miles without anything other than routine servicing – this is why the military used this engine in their Land Rover® fleet until 2012, long after civilian orders had ceased.

The third benefit is the sheltered life these vehicles led in military hands – with long periods of dry storage, detailed servicing and sparing use – this example even has its military service records of everything done during its life… super rare to see and extremely reassuring – one can feel the care and attention behind the wheel too – it is a joy to drive.

In summary, if you are looking for a Classic Land Rover® which you can use without the drawbacks of a Series – being the 4 speed gearbox, leaf springs and drum brakes – then this is well worth considering. Residuals for these vehicles are only going in one direction – as the desire to avoid padding the chancellors pockets meets the desire for lower running costs. There is nothing on this vehicle which can’t be fixed with an £11 Haynes manual from Amazon, and it even benefits from classic insurances. These are certainly the “thinking mans choice” for longevity, value and future residuals – you couldn’t buy a decent later TD5 or TDCI at this price, and you’d be throwing money at chasing faults which you’d never find here!

SOLD