2007 LAND ROVER DEFENDER 110 XS UTILITY - G4 CHALLENGE

KEY FACTS

• A superb example of a genuine G4 Challenge car prepared by Land Rover, which is believed to be one of only four participating cars that exist in private ownership.
• Under the bonnet is the 120bhp 2.4-litre TDCI Puma engine, coupled to a six-speed manual transmission with permanent four-wheel drive.
• A medical support vehicle; this Defender was part of the forward recce team who defined the route on the ground, and it then went on to support the ‘Media Recce’ phase where journalists were taken along the route.
• Just two previous keepers, the first of which was Land Rover UK, and the current owner acquired the car seven years ago.

HISTORY

The G4 Challenge was the successor to the Camel Trophy, bringing specially prepared Land Rover cars together for an off-road focused adventure competition across continents. It ran in 2003, 2006, and was planned to run in 2009.

In preparation for the 2009 main event, a small number of vehicles were prepared for recce purposes by Land Rover, heading to Mongolia in 2008 to scout the route on the ground. While some 95 vehicles were prepared, it is understood that just 10 cars were taken out to Asia for the initial activities, before the main event was cancelled due to the global financial crisis.

This particular Defender 110 was one of that small batch, and one of four identical cars that were tasked with scouting suitable locations for the 2009 G4 Challenge. Its event registration number was 1932 YBA, and there are photos on file of the car on location in Mongolia.

The Defender was shipped Folkestone to Tianjun in China where it participated in recce activity in Northern China, and was then driven to Ulaanbataar in Outer Mongolia. As part of the scouting stage, it then travelled to Dalhanzadgad, west to Bayanhongor and then north to Tsetserieg, Ulyastay, and Moron. Finally, it was driven up the East shore of Lake Hovsgul to the Russian border. A separate recce saw it explore around Irkutsk and Lake Baikal, and as far as Ulan Ude in Siberia.

Owned by Land Rover UK for around two years, and having also been on display in dealerships following its Mongolian adventure, it was subsequently sold to a private individual. The car was acquired by the current owner - only the third keeper from new - in 2014. It is understood to be one of only four surviving G4 Challenge pre-event participant cars to be in private ownership.

EQUIPMENT AND FEATURES

• As with most G4-prepared vehicles, this Defender 110 was initially painted black, before being resprayed in Tangiers Orange for the event. There is still some overspray in places revealing the original colour below.
• The interior was specified with XS half-leather upholstery for the front seats and second-row bench.
• In XS specification, the car comes with heated front seats, air conditioning, electric windows, and heated front and rear screens.
• While G4 Challenge cars were modified to make them more robust for extreme off-road conditions, the parts were bolt-on items available from Land Rover as original factory options or accessories.
• The car remains materially original, as the owner wanted to maintain the visual evidence of its provenance. However, the rear side panels have been soundproofed, and the radio has been upgraded to a Blaupunkt head unit with higher quality speakers. An additional battery in the back provides power for a small inverter, but all of these minor additions can be easily reversed if desired.
• It rides on 16-inch ‘Boost’ alloy wheels, has the NAS rear step, towing hitch, and Warn front winch. There are stone guards over the headlights, a front nudge bar, snorkel, and an expedition roof rack with spot lights.
• While there is no service history on file from 2007 or 2008 when still owned by Land Rover, the record from 2009 onwards is extensive, and is summarised below.
• The car also comes with documentation from both the former Land Rover G4 Challenge Manager as well as the G4 Owners Club, attesting to the car’s originality and pre-event history in Mongolia.

CONDITION

• There is no significant bodywork damage, with the owner reporting a barely noticeable dent on the nearside front wing, and also a small dent on the driver’s door.
• Its Tangiers Orange paintwork is understood to be all original resprayed colour by Land Rover. There are a few blemishes and stone chips picked up during its recce use in Asia, but no major damage or large scratches. The powder coating on the roof rack has cracked in a couple of places, but this has been repaired to prevent further damage.
• The chassis and bulkhead are in good order, having received regular Waxoyl treatment, and there is no corrosion around the windscreen. One of the front spotlight lenses is cracked (but still works), and this has been left as-is in a nod to its history, since the minor damage was sustained on the G4 Challenge.
• Inside, the half-leather black upholstery is in great shape, with only a small split in the passenger seat squab (that is not immediately visible). There is also a small cut in the covering of the centre cubby box.
• There are no electrical faults, and all of the switchgear works correctly.
• Since the vendor acquired the car seven years ago, they have covered some 42,000 miles on the road only, mostly at cruising speed on A-roads and motorways, and it has proved to be a very reliable Defender.
• The most recent MOT test was on 24 August 2020 at 59,064 miles. This was a first-time pass, with a few advisories for slightly corroded power steering hoses, some wear to the front lower suspension bushes, and minor leaks from the offside front swivel housing and rear differential. The power steering pipes and steering ball joints were then replaced, and the minor leaks were also rectified. A fresh MOT certificate will be supplied ready for handover to the next owner.

SERVICE HISTORY

• Its last maintenance was in August 2020 at Milford Motors in Hampshire. This comprised a full A Service with engine oil and filter change, as well as new steering ball joints and two new power steering hoses.
• The vendor is a competent mechanic who has owned many Land Rovers over the years. They have kept the car in good order, carrying out a number of routine services themselves, as summarised below.
• During their tenure, the front and rear brake discs and pads have also been renewed, all four tyres have recently been replaced, the rear brake pipes have been renewed, and the nearside anti-roll bar linkage has been repaired. New headlights and side lights have also been installed.

Dates and mileage:

• 01/05/2009 - 14038 - Land Rover Gaydon (prior maintenance was also carried out before this when Land Rover owned the car, but records are not available)
• 25/01/2011 - 16629 - Car Care Centre - Service
• 17/10/2011 - 17625 - LM Autoservices - Clutch and dual mass flywheel replaced
• 09/04/2013 - 18631 - Car CareCentre - Service
• 19/03/2014 - 18894 - Land Rover Stratford Upon Avon - 84,000 mile service on time + Anti-corrrosion check + Coolant change
• 20/06/2014 - 21345 - User Service - Full Waxoyl and underside clean - No signs of corrosion
• 12/04/2016 - 35799 - Land Rover Coventry - Service
• 11/06/2016 - 37899 - User Service - Full Waxoyl and underside clean - No signs of corrosion
• 12/08/2017 - 46345 - Carbetta, Lymington - Service + Susp Bushes
• 12/06/2018 - 52001 - User Service - Service - All A and B Checks - Engine Oil+Filter/Gearbox/Transfer Box and Axle oil changed. Grease in Swivels OK
• 12/06/2018 - 52001 - User Service - Full Waxoyl and underside clean - No signs of corrosion
• 12/07/2018 - 52145 - Paul Light Landrover - New Brake discs/pads and fluid change
• 18/06/2019 - 55098 - User Service - Service - All A and B Checks - Engine Oil + Filter Changed
• 12/08/2020 - 59010 - New Milton Tyres - 4 x BF Goodrich Tyres
• 01/09/2020 - 59121 - Milford Motors - Full Service - 2 x Front Power Steering Hoses replaced
• 19/06/2021 - 61190 - User Service - Full Waxoyl and underside clean - No signs of corrosion

SUMMARY

This Land Rover Defender 110 XS Utility is a genuine professionally prepared G4 Challenge vehicle, which was one of only a handful of cars used for the pre-event recce activity in Mongolia, Northern China, and Siberia in 2008. First owned by Land Rover UK, it has been well maintained by just two private owners since then, and remains both highly original and in superb condition. It would make a fine addition to any collection of Land Rovers, and is also ready to be put into service as a reliable expedition vehicle.

The description of this auction lot is, to the best of the seller's knowledge, accurate and not misleading. Collecting Cars requests a range of detail about the lot from the seller, and performs a level of due diligence. However, bidders must satisfy themselves as to the accuracy of the description, and conduct any research they feel is necessary before committing to a bid. Please see our Terms and Conditions for full details.

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.