1999 Land Rover Defender 50th Anniversary

“I bought the Land Rover three years ago and have used it mainly for going to the pub in,” explains vendor Brian Cade. “It’s in its original specification and has no modifications, which is quite unusual as they often do get modified.”

The Landie has a very decent service history, which Brian has documented and includes yearly services from 1999 through to 2007 (61,835 miles), after which the interval extends as annual mileage decreased. There are a grand total of 16 stamps in the service book.

“I’m selling now, as I’ve built a new house and now need to furnish it. It’s recently had just under £3k spent on the body to ready it for sale. The side steps were re-chromed, the air-con has been re-gassed and works very well and is cool.”

Those body works took place at Oxfordshire-based 4x4 specialist James French and included a replacement front door, hood (including hinges and stay).Brian has also fitted a fresh carpet set in the cabin at a cost of £385.00.

“It’s just a great original car in lovely condition and with documented mileage. I’d say it’s got to be one of the best examples around.”

The included V5c document shows a total of 7 owners from new, with the date of first UK registration being 15/01/1999. It has a current MOT test certificate, which runs until 07/06/2022.

“The body is exceptional,” stated Brian. “It had a few dinks and things, but as I said I’ve spent around £3k to make sure it’s absolutely spot on.” There’s no doubt that it’s still in fine fettle. Forget your rough and tumble looking examples with, etc… for this is one neat specimen.

Panels look dint free and the metallic Blue paintwork has a lovely, deep turquoise hue to it. It’s a very, sound bodyshell. Checkerplate panels are excellent, bumpers smart in matt black. A bull bar is fitted, as is a rollover cage, as well as chrome side steps.

Other specification highlights include tinted windows and a rear step. The unused spare wheel is mounted on the rear door and all four Tornado, five spoke alloy wheels are very good condition with plenty of tread remaining on their respective tyres.

Pop the bonnet, and you’ll find a tidy engine bay. Some of the black metal components are a touch faded but could be easily smartened up, if the next owner so wished.

Defender screws, bolts and general fixings do have a tendency to go a bit rusty after a few years, but this example is generally pretty free of that. That said, with a very critical eye, there are still one or two that could be replaced or tidied up here and there.

It’s a Defender that remains very pleasing to the eye.

“Even the original radio and CD player are included – although, the latter isn’t currently fitted and is under the driver’s seat,” says Brian. As that statement indicates, the cabin remains pretty much in original condition. Our vendor has recently invested in a fresh carpet set – again, just to smarten things up slightly.

The material on the rear pull seats remains pretty much wear free – Brian couldn’t have had many rowdy passengers on those pub trips! The front seats are just as good and up top, the headlining remains nice and clean. Its light colour, combined with the sunroof, ensures a nice, light and airy cabin.

It’s obvious from condition that this particular Defender has never had to transport any farmyard animals or other goods likely to leave a considerable reminder of their presence.

Nice and smart.

There’s nothing like a ruffty-tufty V8 to put hairs on your chest. Brian says he loves the soundtrack of the 4.0-litre eight-cylinder unit and it’s easy to understand why. Fire up our video below and at 4 minute 16 seconds you’ll hear it erupt into life and fill yours ears with goodness.

On the road it sounds even better and provides a torque-fest. The rest of the experience is of one of a very nicely sorted Landie. The auto ‘box shifts without issue, brakes are sharp and suspension exactly what you’d expect i.e. firm, but it’ll take you to the moon and back, via rutted fields, hills, valley, canyons, and any other terrain you can think of. “Mechanically it is very good,” says Brian, and we’d agree.

It’s definitely worth popping your head underneath because this is one seriously solid example. We’ve dealt with many a Land Rover over the years and very rarely do they have as little by way of surface rust on the underside as this one. It is in excellent health; the chassis is first class, and all suspension components look to be in good fettle. There’s also a lovely fresh-looking, centre-box and back stainless steel exhaust system fitted, which gives a decent bit of snap, crackle and pop.

There’re a decent number of invoices (including those for the recent works discussed in The Vehicle section, above), some old tax discs and expired MOT test certificates in the car’s history file. The original handbooks are included but, of course, the simple most important item is the service book.

It’s worth taking your time flicking through our electronic gallery, as you’ll see that the Defender has had the cash lavished on it when necessary and that explains why it presents so well today.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been maintained to the very highest of standards.

Oh, this is a lovely thing. If you’re into Defenders then it’ll certainly whet your appetite. Highlights include a very comprehensive service history, fine aesthetic and mechanical condition, as well as an underside that is exceedingly solid. It drives very smartly, too.

We think this highly desirable 50th Anniversary, old-school beast will sell for somewhere between £35,000 and £45,000. For that the next owner will receive those iconic looks, a V8 soundtrack and a pretty nice exterior hue as well.

The next trick is to decide what to use it for. Brian pootled t’pub in it, but as you and I both know, it’s capable of that and so much more.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; 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’.