Whether you fall in love with their boxy but beautiful looks, admire their rugged dependability, or your heart skips a beat whenever it fires up with that first turn of the key – the love for a Land Rover is unlike any other car passion. Although it’s fair to say that you aren’t alone in the world with your admiration for this box-shaped object of desire. Since its line-in-the-sand beginnings, the Land Rover’s iconic shape and rugged go-anywhere technology has brought decades of joy to millions of owners all over the world.
Having saved lives with fire departments, scaled mountain peaks and collected the kids from school, the Defender has perhaps been the most used vehicle of all time, with an ability to morph into just about character its owner desires. More recently, though, finding an untouched example has become a real task. But if anyone can find them, it’s Bahrain-based Solihull’s. Specialised in selling and restoring Land Rover and Range Rover Classic models from the brand’s greatest era, the team has recently struck gold with this completely unmodified Defender V8.
Rolling off the assembly line in 1985, this example was one of the first to house Land Rover’s updated V8 engine after a multi-year run of diesel engines and the original V8 motor from 1979 used in the long-wheel-base109 variants. This freshly updated, durable new engine would become the first V8 to be fitted into the short-wheelbase Defender 90, giving the car an entire different set of characteristics and charm. One of the few complaints that came from Land Rover owners before this V8, was the desire for more power. Therefore, the new alloy 3.5-litre V8 producing 114 horsepower offered the ideal balance of power and usability in such a small package. This era of V8-powered 90s would lay the foundations for future limited-edition models such as the V8 Trophy and Defender Works Bespoke.
So, what makes this example so special? The truth is, the standout for us is the complete lack of roof apparatus, lifted suspension and beefy mud-loving tyres. Solihull’s managed to find a timeless symbol of adventure and durability that had been kept true to its original character, and now, after a full frame-off restoration, this 90 is looking better than ever. The talented team who restored it was borderline obsessive when ensuring to preserve its vintage charm and original looks.
Finished in Ivory White with peak double-blue1980s graphics across the side, it’s untarnished look is completed with the addition of the body-matching wheels on narrow and perfectly chunky tyres. It’s the kind of rubber you’d need to cover most terrain, but not too chunky to destroy the ride quality when you hit the smooth stuff. Step inside to discover a perfectly restored interior space, with its two front seats, as well as the handy side-facing crew seats in the rear all wrapped in rich brown leather with textured fabrics.
The simplistic and yet undeniably cool looks of this Defender, combined with the rumble of a highly capable and dependable V8 under the bonnet, make it the ideal companion for both urban and off-road journeys. With so many examples of Land Rover’s past being given entirely new identities, finding one that is finished arguably better than when it rolled off the factory line is a true rarity!
