2016 Land Rover Defender 110 HCPU TD

‘OV66 NTM’ is a very special Land Rover Defender indeed – and not just because it’s a High-Capacity Pick-Up, or HCPU, a bodystyle you don’t see very often.

Because it’s also an ex-Land Rover car that was retained by the firm for use by VIPs until 2022, at which time it was sold to our vendor. As you might have guessed, it didn’t see much use in its former role and has still covered only 1,200 miles from new.

Finished in Keswick Green with a tan-coloured hood and a grey interior, this is an unrepeatable opportunity to get your hands on what may well be the best preserved and lowest mileage example of the ultimate utility Defender on the planet.

The expression ‘time-warp condition’ is wildly overused and yet it would be absolutely justified in this case because the Defender is every bit as good now as it was when it rolled off the production line eight years ago.

Let’s look at the details first, shall we? After all, given its provenance and mileage, we can safely assume that things like panel alignment are the same now as they were when it rolled off the line.

So, we’ll start with the stuff that always deteriorates, like the bolts that hold the hinges and doors on. Every single Defender you’ll ever see will have rust stains on them at best, and heavy corrosion at worst. Not these though because they’re still bright and free of even superficial rust.

This condition is replicated by even smaller fasteners like those used to hold the rear lamp panels in place as well as bigger ones like the bolts that hold the height-adjustable towbar on.

The mudflaps are in mint condition too, as is the fuel filler recess and cap, the badges, lamp lenses, window glass, windscreen, and front bumper. The black plastic trim is dark and glossy and free of scratches and damage too, but then you’d guessed all this by now, hadn’t you?

You’ve probably also guessed that, as a working vehicle (by design at least, if not its actual use) the Defender sits on simple painted white steel wheels (none of your Farrow & Ball-inspired Limestone gibberish here…) and they, like everything else we’ve looked at so far, are in an excellent condition being free of scuffs, scrapes, dinks, and other damage.

They’re also still fitted with matching 7.50R16 Michelin Latitude Cross tyres. Date-stamped 2015, they’re almost certainly the ones the factory fitted back in 2016 – and with so few miles under their belts, they’ve still got almost-new levels of tread left on them too.

The rear loadspace is vast, but then it wouldn’t be called a High-Capacity Pick-Up if it wasn’t, would it? Free of the sort of scratches and dinks even the most carefully used pickup collects over the years, we doubt it’s ever been used in anger – and if you decide you do want to use it then you’ll be pleased to see that a rubber mat is included, which’ll help keep it that way.

Accessed by an immaculate and unique-to-the-HCPU corrugated drop-down tailgate, the loadbed is home to a full-size spare wheel and matching Michelin tyre. Protected by a factory soft-top that’s finished in a complementary tan colour, the roof covering is free of any marks much less damage or wear.

Time-warp condition, you see.

And this includes the paintwork, which is every bit as good now as it was when Land Rover took possession of it for its VIP fleet. Intended, we suspect, for use by muttering rotters, favoured clients, and the marketing department, while we doubt it would have received a better paintjob than normal, we wouldn’t be surprised to learn it received an extra dollop of polish here and there; it would definitely have been valeted more frequently than your average farm hack, that’s for sure.

All of which adds up to a finish that gleams with an intensity we doubt you’ll have seen before on a Defender pickup. But don’t take our word for it; please feel free to make an appointment to pop along to check it out for yourself.

The grey fabric seats are still in ‘as new’ condition underneath the high-quality Land Rover protective seat covers that will stay with the Defender.

There’s none of you fancy-pants, padded-armrest cubby boxes either, just a plastic tray between the two seats that offers rudimentary cupholders and space to put your phone.

Toys, therefore, are few but then this was designed as a working vehicle. You do get rubber mats but everything else is distinctly Old School including window winders, manual seat adjustment, and two levers sprouting out of the floor to control the four-wheel-drive chassis – but then you can guarantee it’ll all still be working long after a Cybertruck has broken in two and the touchscreens in your Range Rover have gone kaput.

The headlining is immaculate being both clean and free of damage, the door cards are unmarked, and the rubber floor coverings have almost certainly never seen a pair of muddy wellies.

And everything else continues in the same vein being factory-fresh and perfectly preserved with one exception: The trim covering the seat plinths has a tear in it on both sides.

As you can see, it starts flawlessly, idles and revs as it should, and does it all without illuminating any dashboard warning lamps or making any funny noises or excess smoke.

The engine bay is exactly as you’d expect to find in a vehicle that’s been as well curated as this.

The last time we saw an undercarriage this clean was during a tour of the factory back in the day, and it even still has the factory labels on the chassis.

All-in-all, we are confident that even the most fastidious buyer will be impressed with the Defender’s condition. (We were going to say “the Defender’s oily bits’ but that would be untrue as there aren’t any.)

The Defender doesn’t have a current MoT certificate, but then given its history of advisory-free passes, the low mileage, and the fact the last one only expired in June 2024, we don’t imagine getting one would be much of a challenge.

We estimate the hammer will drop somewhere between £40,000 and £50,000 but as they’ll never build another – and the new Defender STARTS at £60,000 – we think this one, still minty fresh and as good as the day it rolled off the production line, offers solid value.

And that’s on the basis you’re going to be using it as Land Rover intended; if you aren’t then you might be able to factor in an element of investment potential too.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.