A true icon in every sense of the word, since the original Land Rover Series began production in Solihull in 1948 until its decades-long production run ended in 2016, more than two million Defenders were produced, becoming a British automotive icon. Since production ceased, the revered model has been in increased demand from both collectors and those willing to use this tough, utilitarian vehicle in the way it was designed for.

It was only in 1989, following the introduction of the all-new Land Rover Discovery, that the Defender received its own name. This was not only a marketing exercise; the new Defender received a raft of upgrades, along with a new turbo diesel engine that brought useful increases in power, torque, and fuel economy when compared with the old, normally aspirated diesel it was based on. Often boasting large ‘Defender’ logos, the Land Rover continued through a continuous process of development, gaining disc brakes and power-assisted steering as standard during the 1990s, together with a host of other improvements.

This stunning Land Rover Defender 90 is a versatile pickup and was first registered in March 2013. The condition of this Defender can only be described as immaculate, with the interior, bodywork, hood, engine bay, and undercar all in pristine condition. Presented in a stunning red-and-black configuration, this Defender boasts a black hood over the loading bay, black kicker plates on the bonnet, and steel wheels fitted with BF Goodrich off-road tyres.

Online service records state that the car’s last dealer service was at La Linea Franca Land Rover in Bonn-Buschdorf, Germany, in August of 2015 at 8,920 km and is presently showing under 12,000 km from new. Acquired by the consignor from Garage Albert Michael in Belgium during 2018, it was then exported to the UK, where it was road registered. In its present ownership, the hood-mounting hardware has been powder-coated black from its original silver.

Defenders are in ascendancy, and considering the launch of the new Defender, interest in the original is likely to grow further.