1997 Land Rover Defender 110

First registered in 1997, this Land Rover Defender is a fine example of the long-wheelbase 110 model, which also boasts the ‘county’ trim pack, giving more comfortable seats, safari-style windows, a sunroof and some classic graphics along the side of the vehicle, adding style whilst retaining the Defender’s legendary go-anywhere, do-anything abilities.

In recent years, the car had been dry-stored, before the vendor purchased the vehicle during 2012, according to the Isle of Man registration document.

Other than that, very little is known about the vehicle’s history, though it is worth pointing out that other than the aftermarket radio, it is believed to be in original condition throughout.

With its red bodywork, county ‘Defender’ graphics and squared-off proportions, this Defender 110 is every inch the off-road hero.

The bodywork, whilst heavily worn, is in decent shape overall, boasting only a couple of more notable indentations, which have been documented below. The paintwork is heavily weathered from years of enjoyment and use, but it has reached that wonderful point now where it could be considered ‘character’ rather than a detraction from the vehicle’s condition.

This weathering does, naturally, bring with it some bubbling and flaking paintwork, some of which has been left as-is, and some of which has been painted over to largely hide them from sight.

All of the light lenses are in good condition, and the fold-down side and rear steps remain in place.

Inside the impressively light and airy cabin, the interior of this Defender has worn its years well, though it does display some typical signs of usage and enjoyment consistent with a ‘Landie’ of this age and mileage.

The seats, for example, show some typical wear up front, whilst the rear of the second row has numerous marks and small nicks from the covers, though all of the seats remain shapely and supportive, or at least as supportive as a Defender seat can be!

Up above, the headliner is in decent order with only a few patches of sagging, and the manual sunroof remains fully functional. The headliner itself is relatively stained from what appears to be water ingress or damp, though this may be rectifiable with a thorough valeting.

Surprisingly, the high-traffic areas such as the steering wheel and shifter show only light wear, suggesting that whilst the mileage covered by this 110 is relatively high, it has been treated well throughout its lifetime.

In the rear, the load area has worn well, and there are no signs of any major damage to the floor coverings. The longitudinal seats are also in good order, with only a few minor holes and stains noted.

Starting with ease and apparently in very good mechanical health, we noted no untoward issues, behaviours or noises from the engine or transmission during our test drive to-and-from the photo shoot location, with the only minor problem noted being a noticeable knock once the engine is shut down, as you can see in the video below. We expect this is likely an engine mount or similar, but as always, you’re more than welcome to come and view the car for yourself, just click the ‘contact seller’ button above.

In the engine bay, the TDi engine looks to be in fine fettle, with only a few minor oil and fluid weeps noted around the bay - commensurate for a Land Rover of this era - and no sign of any outwardly visible problems.

Underneath, there is the usual ‘bloom’ and ‘rust dust’ smattered across the chassis and suspension components, but nothing that outwardly concerned us during a brief inspection.

Included with the vehicle is the Isle of Man registration document and a set of keys.

In addition to this, there is a raft of invoices and paperwork from throughout the car’s life, along with the OE handbooks and manuals.

Ever-dependable, iconic among automotive enthusiasts and possessing the ability to get you almost anywhere you can think of, there is a reason the Land Rover Defender has become a true landmark in automotive history, and remains an instantly-recognisable car anywhere in the world to this day.

Offered in ready-to-use condition with plenty of potential for aesthetic improvements should the next owner wish to do so, this Defender 110 is offered for sale with an estimate of £10,000 to £15,000.

Viewing is always encouraged. This particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays between 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.