2000 LAND ROVER DEFENDER 110 - HERITAGE EDITION

This 2000 Land Rover Defender 110 Heritage is a smart example of the limited-run 50th anniversary model, which has received some cosmetic refurbishment and drives well, but would now benefit from some mechanical attention. Powered by a 2.5-litre Td5 diesel engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission, this example shows 109,851 miles on the odometer.

First registered on 25 February 2000, this is a genuine Heritage Edition car, created to celebrate 50 years of Land Rover Defender production, which saw a total of 270 examples built by Land Rover Special Vehicles (SV) – and just 81 of these being based upon the long-wheelbase 110. Benefitting from a high specification over the standard 110, this Heritage model boasts green leather upholstery, rare Bronze Green paintwork, a retro front grille, cream-coloured dials, and an aluminium gear knob.

This example was purchased by the vendor during October 2019 as a light restoration project, and during their ownership the car has received a full respray in the original green colour, with the exception of the roof which is believed to retain the factory paintwork.

The Bronze Green finish looks to be in generally great shape, though the vendor does note that there are a few small patches of bubbling around the rear door and on the rear nearside panel, which is a reaction under the paint rather than rust. As the car has been put into use since the fresh paint application, there are some minor faults, including stone chips on the front end, and a small scuff below the driver’s door. The wheels are a set of new items which were fitted during the bodywork restoration process, and are in excellent condition with only one very minor mark on the nearside front wheel.

Inside, the interior is believed to be the original fitted to the vehicle when it left the factory, with the exception of the replacement wood-rimmed steering wheel. While the green leather seats are in good order without any rips or tears, there are the expected age-related signs of wear to the bolsters and front seat bases. The headliner is in poor condition, though a new and unused full headlining to replace it is included with the sale of the vehicle. The rear bench seat on the driver’s side is missing its cushion, though this should be straightforward to replace in the future. Also included is a rear cage grille and full set of rubber Land Rover mats. The vendor notes that the radio is not currently functioning, though the cassette player is working, and there are no warning lights on the dashboard.

During the vendor’s ownership, this 110 has benefitted from a new upgraded turbocharger, which was fitted in March 2021 and has reportedly transformed the way this Td5 drives. In addition to this, two wheel bearings have been replaced, the remote key fob has been repaired, and the opening mechanisms on three of the doors have received attention. The front side and indicator light covers have also been replaced. 

The last service took place in August 2020 at 106,987 miles and was carried out by Promec Land Rover. This comprised of a full service with replacement of the engine oil and filter, along with new front and rear differential oils, transfer box oil and gearbox oil. The garage also completed a 70-point check and road tested the vehicle. While the service book shows that prior services were carried out in 2010, there are several invoices with the vehicle that show work carried out after these dates.

The most recent service highlighted a number of areas on the vehicle that need attention. These include worn triangular bushes, worn rear radius bushes, split rubbers on the A-frame ball joint, lipping on the front and rear brake discs, minor leaks on the transfer box and gear box seals, a splitting front track rod end, soft side hockey bushes, and a seized piston on a front brake caliper. In addition, it was also noted that the rear differential plug was worn, and there is the presence of metal filings in the gearbox, though this latter item was noted as “minimal” and does not appear to affect the drivability of the vehicle.

The most recent MOT took place on 9 June 2020, and resulted in a pass with an advisory for a worn rear brake disc. All four tyres on the road wheels are in good shape, though the vendor notes the spare has minor damage to the inside. There are various Land Rover handbooks and documents with the vehicle, numerous invoices for servicing and other works, old MOT certificates, the Land Rover jack and wheel brace, and a spare set of keys.

The Land Rover Defender 110 is a true icon of the British motoring industry, and was rightly honoured with these unique ‘Heritage Edition’ models for its 50-year anniversary. Presenting in generally good order throughout, and reported to be running and driving well, it requires some straightforward mechanical ‘TLC’ to bring it back to impressive condition. This Defender is a rare special edition, and a great opportunity for a passionate Land Rover enthusiast to gradually improve over time.

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