1988 LAND ROVER DEFENDER 90 PICK UP

This 1988 Land Rover 90 Pick Up is a sound example of Solihull’s iconic and enduring short-wheelbase workhorse. Powered by a 2.5-litre inline-four turbocharged diesel engine coupled to a manual transmission with both high and low-range gearing, this particular vehicle shows 114,155 miles on the odometer and sits upon its original chassis.

First registered on 2 January 1988, this Land Rover 90 – the name ‘Defender’ was not introduced until 1990 – was originally blue, before being resprayed into the black that you see here. Purchased initially by the vendor to launch and recover their boat, they decided this 90 was “too good” to subject it to regular dips in the Irish Sea, and instead chose to use it as a daily driver. During the last year, the car has been subject to numerous upgrades including a full LED front light conversion, along with the addition of the side steps, bull bar and spotlights at the front. The rear bed has also received attention, with a full Flexiteek liner and tonneau cover with bar.

The black paintwork is starting to show its age now, though is certainly still in presentable condition. Having gained a natural patina through many years of use, there are some small signs of bubbling and patches of the original blue colour beginning to show through the paint. The roof has suffered from some damage, though the rest of the panels on the car are straight and free from any major marks. The upgraded LED front lights transform the ‘face’ of the car, but should they not be to your taste, the original lights are included in the sale. The black alloy wheels sit well against the imposing squared-off bodywork of the 90, and are shod in a set of matching BFGoodrich all-terrain tyres.

Inside, the cabin is believed to be completely original barring the removal of the middle seat. The third seatbelt is still attached, so could be converted back, but in its place currently resides a later style central cubby box. The beige cloth and brown vinyl seats are in generally good condition, with relatively minor wear and tear you would expect given the age and mileage, and some staining on the passenger seat outer bolster. The carpet would benefit from being replaced, but is in perfectly usable condition. All the gauges and electronics currently work perfectly, with no reported faults.

Under the bonnet, the bulkhead is still the original item – finishing in the factory blue hue – with no signs of any welding having taken place. During the vendor’s ownership, the car has had over £1,500 spent on it. In addition to the aforementioned upgrades, the car has received a new exhaust, front shock turret, steering column upper joint, exhaust clamps, fuel filler neck, and a new headlamp bowl. The rear cross-member has also received some welding in order to pass the MOT test.

The last service took place at 114,147 miles and was performed by Autopoint in Rossendale, during which the above work was carried out. Prior to this, there was also a service in April 2020, when the brakes were cleaned and adjusted, new rear lower bushes were fitted, the nearside rear shock absorber fluid was changed, and a number of wiring issues were rectified.

The most recent MOT test was carried out on 2 March 2021, resulting in a pass with advisories for the brake pedal travel, engine oil cooler seepage, play on both track rod end ball joints, slight seepage on the rear axle, and the front upper axle swivel pins being slightly worn on both sides. All four tyres are in good condition with plenty of tread.

The Land Rover 90 is a car that has enduring appeal in all its forms, and the Pick Up body seen here is one of the most versatile. While this example could do with some ‘TLC’ to bring it back to its best, or could form the basis for a more detailed restoration or custom build, it would make a capable daily driver or regular workhorse as-is.

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All UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Collecting Cars are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and has no finance owing.