A pair of 1990s Defenders now available on Hemmings Auctions has us looking back at the genesis of this long-term mainstay of the Land Rover line, especially now that more and more such vehicles are eligible to import to the United States. Just looking at this 1996 Land Rover Defender 110 and this 1995 Land Rover Defender 90 stirs our sense of adventure.
Land Rover had been synonymous with go-anywhere adventuring for decades by the early 1980s. Rugged, reliable and available in a variety of wheelbases, the Land Rover evolved over 35 years, with the Series I, II, IIA and III looking largely similar and offering the same utilitarian driving experience valued by militaries, farmers and people interested in going beyond the pavement. The aluminum-bodied, steel-framed utility vehicles offered simple mechanicals but not a lot in the way of creature comforts. It was abundantly clear that the market was ready for a Land Rover that was not only capable of going where roads didn’t exist, but that could also provide adequate transportation on pavement at highway speeds. Enter the Defender.
An All-New Land Rover
Though it looked a lot like its Land Rover Series predecessors, the Defender was new in almost every respect, right down to the frame. With the promise of a more comfortable ride, that newly designed chassis included coil springs at all four corners, replacing the previous leaf springs. A five-speed transmission was standard, in place of the four-speed. An optional automatic followed some years after the Defender’s introduction. One-piece windshields and roll-up windows were more Land Rover firsts for Defender.
But the list of firsts didn’t stop there. A center-locking differential was also added, giving the Defender better on-road performance when engaging four-wheel drive, the sort of reassurance a parent might want when behind the wheel in winter weather. Front disc brakes were also part of the package, as prior Land Rovers had relied on drums on all four corners since introduction in 1948. Power steering and air conditioning also became options for the first time with the Defender. A more passenger-friendly interior with more supportive front seats was also standard kit. Many of the Defender’s mechanical improvements were cribbed from the company’s Range Rover, but that vehicle was always targeted at a more affluent audience.
Technically, the Defender name didn’t appear until a few years later upon the release of the Discovery at the end of the Eighties; models were called Land Rover 90 and Land Rover 110 upon introduction in 1983, depending on wheelbase. Three-door and five-door passenger models were complemented by two-door pickup truck versions along with a panel truck for commercial and military customers. Those same groups were the primary reason an extra-long-wheelbase 130 was built, combining the four-door cab of the 110 with a pickup bed for cargo and gear. Specially constructed vehicles based on the Defender included ambulances and tactical military versions.
Nobody mistook the more refined Defender for the luxury afforded by a Jaguar sedan, but with its better on-road manners and ability to comfortably handle highway speeds, the Defender proved a hit, lasting on the market from 1983 all the way through the 2016 model year. (An all-new, entirely unrelated Defender debuted for 2020.) A variety of four, five, six and eight-cylinder engines were used during that period. They were sourced from Rover, Ford, Jaguar and even BMW, which owned Land Rover from 1994 to 2000, when the company was purchased by Ford. In 2008, the massive Indian conglomerate Tata purchased Land Rover from Ford.
“Bomb-Proof” 300TDi Turbodiesel Engine
In 1994, Land Rover introduced the 300TDi engine, a 2.5-liter turbodiesel that was rated at 111 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, the latter reaching its peak at just 1,800 rpm. Many Defender enthusiasts consider the 300TDi to be “bomb proof,” exactly the sort of powerplant you might want in a go-anywhere vehicle.
There was, however, one problem for us Americans: The Defender was only imported to the U.S. for a few short years in the Nineties, and with very limited supply at that. For decades, the Defender was largely forbidden fruit in the land of the free and home of the brave. But thanks to Uncle Sam’s 25-year rule for imported vehicles, more and more Defenders have become fair game for collectors. Both private individuals and commercial enterprises have been importing Defenders legally since eligibility opened up about 15 years ago.
Defenders Available on Hemmings Auctions
Right now, Hemmings Auctions has a pair of mid-1990s Defenders listed. Both have been refurbished in some way, though apparently neither has needed complete restoration. Recent imports, both share the same powertrain components featuring the 300TDi engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission. But from there, their specs diverge.
The 1995 Defender 90, which was privately imported from Italy, features left-hand drive. As a Defender 90, it sits on the shorter wheelbase, which appropriately accommodates this Land Rover’s three-door design. This example features a recent full respray of both the aluminum body and the steel chassis, the latter of which was “sandblasted” before refinishing, per the seller, who has provided photos that show a clean Defender. Additional notes from the seller indicate engine and chassis service/maintenance along with new tires in December of 2023
When Land Rover did import the long-wheelbase, five-door Land Rover 110 to North America, it was for one year only in 1993, and a little over 500 were sold, making the presence of this 1996 Defender 110 a true rarity on our shores. This example, complete with the additional of an external roll cage (as all North American-spec 110s were built in 1993), features a right-hand-drive layout and a refinish in navy blue that the seller indicates was recent. The listing also notes that the A/C blows cold and the heat properly warms the vehicle.
The original Land Rover Defender lasted decades on the market, with good reason. For a few short years in the Nineties, it was available in tiny numbers here in the U.S. But now that imports are fully legal for 1999 and older models (with more reaching eligibility each year), we have more to choose from. If you were to drive a Defender, would it be with two or four doors?
Check out these two Land Rover Defenders now on Hemmings Auctions.
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