2004 Land Rover Defender 90 Soft Top

The retro treatment is largely cosmetic in this instance with this 90 retaining its Td5 engine plus safety and interior options. The latter have been further enhanced by a snazzy Land Rover Classic infotainment system; equipped with USB, Bluetooth and satellite navigation. The Security has been bolstered with an Optimill steering lock (RRP £160) and a tracking system from Scorpion.

We haven’t seen any of the restoration paperwork but the vendor had the following to report: “During the car's restoration, the half doors and khaki canvas hood were renewed, and the exterior trims were re galvanised for a consistent finish. A Keswick Green chequer plate panel was riveted to the centre of the bonnet and new lights were fitted all round, including the headlights, which are now more powerful LED units. Chequer plate side steps have also recently been fitted but these could easily be removed, should the new keeper so desire.”

Keswick Green appears about as classic a shade as any applied to Solihull’s finest, but it actually only appeared in 2005. Land Rover adopted a very similar shade called Grasmere Green metallic for its own Heritage editions, as a nod to the original Defender for its final year of production, before it went off sale in 2016. Those Heritage Defenders have gone on to become some of the most desirable of the ‘classic’ Land Rover era, which has no doubt informed the build of this 90.

The visual back dates on this example include the classic badges front and rear, the Heritage grille and those rugged, chunky body-coloured steel wheels. There are also other less obvious touches that trick the eye into thinking this ‘Landy’ is a lot older than it is. Colour-coded wheelarch trims, bare metal finished bumpers and that khaki cloth soft-top all help to compliment the 1950s aesthetic.

The paint finish and the exterior in general both appear to be in fine order throughout. There is evidence of a very small ‘dent’ to the nearside door – though it appears to have come from an inside impact, as it’s pushed out rather than in. The colour coded wing mirrors look in good condition (just a few light swirls) and the hood also looks taught and in fine shape. There’s a tiny chip in the paint to the offside door pillar (behind the mirror) and some equally miniscule bubbling to the finish on the bottom of the A pillar (same side) and the plastic rear screen is a little scratched, but we’re being very picky, as it really does present very well. 

Just as with the outside, the inside of this Land Rover is a healthy mix of traditional and contemporary. The first thing you’ll notice are those very attractive tan seats with their white piping. The wood wheel and body-coloured centre console go a long way to adding some personalisation to an otherwise fairy spartan cabin. The factory door cards have been omitted for that old-fashioned Land Rover vibe, the floors are also covered by rubber mats.

That said, the creature comforts haven’t been entirely forgotten – this is a restomod after all – so there’s all the ‘toys’ you’d come to expect from a later Land Rover including electric windows, power steering, digital odometer and the aforementioned upgraded ICE, which has been matched to new under-dash speakers and dash-top tweeters. That’s not to say this Defender’s luxurious, none of the factory models were, but it’s both useable and practical with enough modern convenience to make it a lot easier to live with than the period classic era it’s trying to emulate.

As already noted, this Defender is powered by its original and notoriously hardy 2.5-litre Td5 engine. These are known for covering big mileages and the much more modern design and turbocharged performance makes them very easy to both maintain and live with. This one seems barely run-in with a little over 46k miles displayed, with good supporting history.

There doesn’t appear to be anything in the engine bay to cause alarm – though the plastic cover does preclude an in-depth visual inspection. The engine cover shows a few light scratches and there’s surface corrosion on most of the fixings, both otherwise, everything seems tickety-boo. The underside also looks good with just some very mild surface rust seen in a few limited areas. The weatherproofing is present and correct, all visible bushes, bolts and fixings appear to be relatively recently additions.

At the point of compiling this listing, we had a limited view of the history but it’s still one that shows care and attention seems to have been paid. The most recent invoice details £554.87 spent at Forest Motors in February 2023 on a service (including new number plates). The original factory service book shows dealer care was carried out by the supplying dealer until 2006, after which time a variety of independent firms took over.

The vendor has had the freedom to study the history in more depth and has mentioned the following highlights: “Originally painted in Java Black, the car was fully re-sprayed the classic Land Rover hue of Keswick Green during its restoration. Finished to a very high standard and boasting a handful of cosmetic modifications, this Defender will comfortably take both the daily commute and arduous expeditions in its stride. Services have been carried out at the following mileages; 6,089, 11,823, 17,086, 19,780, 22,356, 29,742, 36,123, 43,600 and most recently at 44,906 miles in February 2023. An advisory-free MoT is valid until February 2024. The vehicle further benefits from recently renewed suspension components, brake discs, callipers, and hoses.”

The ‘new’ Land Rover Defender (it’s been out for six years now, believe it or not...) might bear the name, but it’s a very different animal from this ‘classic’ Land Rover. There are many that will never get onboard with the newer Defender’s approach, no matter how accomplished a machine it is. For those few and the many others who just want that classic Land Rover aesthetic, without the misery of actually owning and driving a 50+ year old Solihull product, this restomod 90 could make the ideal town & country companion.

We think this will sell for between £24,000 - £28,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located with us at the Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, 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, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.