2002 Land Rover Overfinch 90 County

Delivered by Pentland Land Rover on the 17th August 2002, this Land Rover Defender 90 was converted by Overfinch a couple of years later to the firm’s full-fat specification.

And by that we don’t mean a tweaked ECU and a noisy exhaust.

Because that’s not the Overfinch way. 

Proving the adage that ‘there ain’t no substitute for cubes’ ‘N900 DEF’ is fitted a 5.7-litre, fuel-injected Chevrolet engine mated to a matching automatic gearbox. 

Plus an auxiliary 40-litre fuel tank because, well, because 5.7-litre, fuel-injected V8 and automatic gearbox.

Originally finished in Monte Carlo Blue, Overfinch also changed the colour to Violet Grey, which is a shade Mercedes-Benz used in the 1960s on its SL. The roof is Limestone, as are the Compomotive alloy wheels, and the result is gorgeously retro-modern.

It fitted a high-end interior too, comprising two heated Puma seats in the front, four individual seats in the rear, and a fancy steering wheel.

The result is a million miles away from the Defender that left the production line and is one of the very few Land Rover products that allows you to look at a factory V8 and say: “Aw, that’s so cute.”

It’s also fresh from a £10,000 refresh by Land Rover experts Nene Overland, during which everything that needed to be done was done. 

It comes with a good service history too, plus a fresh MoT, so all you need to do is brim the twin fuel tanks and head off into the sunset.

Violet Grey is not a subtle colour, but then nothing that boasts LED head and secondary lamps, colour-coded front grille, headlamp surrounds, mudguards, wheelarches, and alloy steering guard, an NAS rear step, tinted glass, and a Limestone roof is ever going to fade gently into the background, is it?

And that’s without mentioning the five-spoke Compomotive alloy wheels that have been colour-coded to match the roof. 

Or the huge 265/75R16 BF Goodrich KO2 all-terrain tyres, tyres whose depth of tread can be measured in inches rather than millimeters and whose nigh-on 32-inch diameter and ten-inch width add so much to the Defender’s presence.

The roof has been resprayed only recently, and the front bumper replaced, which means the Defender’s overall presentation is excellent. 

We’re fond of saying that no vehicle wears a patina better than an old Defender and if you agree then you’re going to have to wait a while for this one’s to develop.

The rest of the details stack up, too. The spare wheel, for instance, matches the rest for style, colour and the type of tyre fitted - and y’all know how we feel about matching tyres by now.

This means there isn’t much for you to get your teeth into.

If you are fastidious then the rear window tint is starting to degrade, the rear bumper would benefit from being removed and repainted, a few of the fasteners are rusty, there is a small amount of bubbling at the base of the windscreen frame on the offside, and a rear window seal has eased away.

The driver and passenger can enjoy the delights of half-leather, heated Puma seats, which are in great shape and separated by a neat centre console. This not only houses the automatic gear lever but also provides space for two cups of coffee and a lockable cubby underneath the armrest. It’s a very neat solution that’s as practical as it is elegant.

Those in the rear can choose from one of four individual rear seats, all of which are sensibly protected by black waterproof covers. They fold neatly out of the way too, so you can juggle the competing demands of stuff and people depending on the proportion of each you’re carrying.

A Kenwood double-din headunit, complete with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth, provides music and phone connectivity and there are plenty of speakers (we counted eight; there may be more) dotted throughout the cabin so all can enjoy it.

The Defender also boats air conditioning, a heated windscreen and rear window, rear wash/wipe, electric windows, and central locking for unaccustomed luxury, something the full carpets and rubber mats contribute to.

The driver also gets to hang on to an Overfinch-branded Moto-Lita steering wheel, which looks better than the factory original while also providing better legroom. 

In fact, the combination of a smaller wheel and the absence of a clutch pedal means even taller folk should be able to get comfortable, which isn’t something that can be said of the standard model.

As for the condition of the rest of the fixtures and fittings, the door cards, including the vulnerable one in the rear, are all excellent. The headlining is clean and full-length, and the dashboard is well-stocked and free of damage.

As for flaws, the carpets could so with being deep cleaned and we can see the odd rusty screw and fastener but that’s about all.

Nene Overland carried out a £10,000 recommission in 2023, which included a new fuel system, a new waterpump and cooling pipes, a new battery and starter motor, new brake discs, pads and pipes, new rear springs and dampers, plenty of new seals, and a full service.

The underside has been fully Waxoyl’d, too.

Prior to this, the Defender’s service history is recorded as follows:

• 14.01.2004 and 7,063 miles – service by Overfinch
• 10.08.2005 and 18,532 miles – service by Pentland Land Rover Edinburgh
• 21.07.2010 and 31,012 miles – service by Nene Overland 
• 23.08.2011 and 36,708 miles – service by Nene Overland
• 24.03.2005 and 28,007 miles – service by Nene Overland
• 26.10.2009 and 29,509 miles – service by Nene Overland
• 27.02.2015 and 52,552 miles – service by Nene Overland
• 22.04.2021 and 53,905 miles – service by Foley Specialist Vehicles
• 06.10.2021 and 57,803 miles – oil service by Moss Motors

Still showing just 63,000 miles on the odometer, the combination of that powerful small-block Chevy V8 and a slick automatic gearbox is a match made in heaven. As you’d expect of a firm with Overfinch’s reputation, the installation has been so well done you’d be forgiven for assuming it left Solihull like this.

A K&N filter adds power alongside one of the most gorgeous inductions rasps we’ve heard in a while. As you can see, it starts well, idles as it should, and has possibly the finest exhaust note of any Defender we’ve heard. 

It also rocks nicely when you prod the throttle, and it does it all with no warning lights on the dashboard. 

It even comes with almost a full tank of fuel. 

The engine bay is decent but given how often you’re going to be asked “what’ve you got under there?” we can see the new owner might like to detail it to enable it to fulfill its potential.

It also looks like the alloy coolant reservoir might be leaking.

As for the underside, it looks good and strong but some of the Violet Grey paint is coming away, so the underlying Monte Carlo Blue paint can be seen.

There is some surface rust too, so it might be worth booking it in for a comprehensive professional rust-proofing session to protect your investment.

The Defender will have a full 12-month MoT certificate by the time the auction ends.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and the history file contains the Overfinch Land Rover wallet and book pack, manuals for the stereo and battery conditioner, and lots of old invoices.

TSN Automotive also installed a Trackstar Advance in April 2021, and the installation report is also included as part of the history file.

Rare, fast, and very, very cool, it’s estimated that Overfinch only built around a dozen of these, which makes them hard to value.

This one, fresh from that five-figure refresh, is on the button and ready to go, which makes our guide price of between £35,000 and £45,000 seem like good value.

And, if you’re dithering, just ask yourself when the last time was you saw one? 

Because we, like you, have seen dozens of Overfinch-converted Range Rover Classics over the years but can’t remember ever having seen a classic Defender.

Well, other than the one Overfinch currently has for sale with an asking price of a quarter of a million pounds, that is…

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located 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’.