2002 Land Rover Defender Td5 90 County

Finished in Chawton White, this lovely little left-hand-drive Land Rover Defender 90 is still in the care of its first owner. Bought new in Spain, it was only ever used in the summer as a holiday car and was kept snug in the garage in winter.

Fitted with the ever-green TD5 diesel engine and fitted out to County specification, it came to the UK in 2009, where it continued its summer-only use. It is now compliant to UK specification, with papers to prove this. The work involved to do this was simply a new speedo (to show MPH) and swapping rear fog & reversing lights. Only having racked up 60,000 miles in the past 20 years, it’s had an easy life by anyone’s standards, much less those of a commercial Land Rover.

Being offered for sale with no reserve, this well-documented and superbly presented slice of British motoring history is going to sell from the very first bid.

Chawton White is a clean, simple colour and a hue that suits the Defender’s bluff lines to perfection. Easy to touch-up after a rougher-than-planned green lane excursion, no colour is easier to match.

It’s also got a wonderfully utilitarian UN-to-the-rescue feel about it we love. No, it’s not a hipster metallic but then you’re better than that, aren’t you?

The panel fit is good too, and while the panel gaps aren’t going to trouble Mercedes, they’re good by Land Rover standards and there’s nothing here that sets alarm bells ringing. This is probably because the vendor assures us that it’s never been restored or had any bodywork at all, so what you see here are the factory panels and paint.

Very original, it’s even free of the sort of dents, dings, and other damage that most sport; while it’s true that no vehicle wears a heavy patina better than a Defender, it’s always nicer to start with a blank canvas and write your own history on it if possible, isn’t it?

Most of the screws and fasteners are free of rust, and the black trim is still a nice, deep black rather than the faded grey you more usually see.

The chunky five-spoke alloy wheels are in fine fettle too, and they’re shod with matching General Grabber TR tyres – including the tailgate-mounted spare – and all of them still have plenty of rubber left on them.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

Extras include a pair of headlamp protectors, new-looking mudflaps, two Land Rover-branded Hella spotlights, roof bars and a roof tray, aftermarket side steps, and a (slightly rusty) towbar and rear step.

There are a few marks and stonechips here and there but remarkably few for its age – and the fact it’s a Defender…

In fact, our To Do list would be very short and only comprise replacing the rusty bonnet hinge screws, and de-rusting and painting the towbar, rear step and rear chassis member.

The interior is in a decent shape with a pair of individual seats in the front, and two sets of single seats in the rear. The latter fold up to give unfettered access to the rear floor space and are fitted with lap belts

The door cards, sunvisors, headlining, and dashboard are all good, as are the carpets. Easy life, remember?

The speedometer has been replaced with a white-faced one that reads in miles per hour, a natty upgrade that lifts the cabin more than you’d imagine.

Lifting the carpets shows solid metal but rusty screws, so you might like to pop that on your list of stuff that’s going to keep you busy this winter. While you’re at it, you could jot down a reminder to source a better steering wheel, centre console lid, and rear door trim. None are especially bad, it’s just that the rest of the Defender is so good it seems a shame to let the side down with anything that’s not in great shape, especially given how cheap and easy they would be to replace.

The boot contains the tool kit, jack, and a touring kit comprising warning triangles, a reflective vest, gloves, poncho, and a first aid kit.

A van Aaken SmartBox, said to boost power, is fitted. This can easily be removed should the new buyer wish.

The owner tells us that it has never refused to start and has never broken down. He also told us that it drives well, and the only remedial work it’s ever needed was to the offside front swivel joint and a small fuel leak.

The engine bay is clean and tidy and the underside is remarkably good, being solid and well protected. It’s certainly never come to the attention of an MoT tester for corrosion, which must be some kind of record for the model and not a statement I thought I’d ever write.

This Defender comes with stacks of history, dating right back to when the car was first delivered to its owner back in 2002. The fully stamped book indicates a comprehensive service history, with invoices on file to back these up. Both Spanish and UK-based specialists have serviced this car, most recently at W.J. Joyce Land Rover Specialists in March 2022 and March 2021, totalling £712.31 and £715.60 respectively. Previous services were carried out at AJS 4x4 and Broad Lane Land Rover, dating right back to when this car came to British shores. While in Spain, the car was serviced by Land Rover specialists. All invoices are on file, in the Gallery below. The car also comes with its European Certificate of Conformity and its original 2002 Spanish purchase invoice.

The Defender’s MoT certificate is valid until April 2023, and it was gained, like so many times before, with no advisories, which isn’t something many Defenders can boast…

The car also comes with a clear HPI report.

If the previous twelve months has taught us anything, it’s that the world is a less predictable place than we ever thought – and that the zombie apocalypse we all used to laugh about isn’t looking quite so unlikely anymore…

And, in these uncertain times, there are few better vehicles to face the world in than a well-maintained Land Rover Defender like this, one that gets better and better the deeper you delve.

Wonderfully original and fitted with the tough, durable and economical TD5 diesel engine, its indefatigable nature means it’s as much at home pottering around the city as it would be scaling mountains with your family aboard and a grab bag lashed down in the back.

And, with a guide price of somewhere between £15,000 and £20,000, we can’t think of many places we’d rather tuck our money away for a few years while we ride out the coming storms.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Bath, United Kingdom. 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’.