1997 Land Rover Defender 90 2.0-liter MPi Five-Speed

Description

“The Defender 90 is not for everyone. It’s for those who seek the road less traveled — and sometimes, no road at all,” proclaimed Land Rover’s 1997 brochure. That year marked the final chapter of the North American Specification (NAS) Defender 90, a vehicle that had become a symbol of rugged authenticity. Rooted in the legacy of the original 1948 Land Rover Series I, the Defender 90 carried forward a tradition of utilitarian design and off-road excellence. 

Introduced to the U.S. market in 1994, the Defender 90 was a niche offering: spartan, purposeful, and unapologetically mechanical. The 1997 US version featured a 3.9-liter V8 paired with a new four-speed automatic transmission, though in other parts of the world inline-four gas and turbo diesel engines and five-speed manual gearboxes were offered, as on this rest-of-world example, believed sold new in Italy. 

Built on a ladder-frame chassis with solid axles and coil springs the Defender is ideal for serious off-road use. Its minimalist interior and boxy aluminum body emphasized function over form. Rugged and purposeful, the 1997 Defender 90 remains one of the most revered Land Rovers made. 

Highlights 

• Rest-of-world (Italy) Land Rover Defender 90 

• 2.0-liter gasoline DOHC MPi inline-four 

• Five-speed manual transmission with dual-range transfer case 

• Black-finished 16″ Sawtooth wheels with aftermarket center caps 

• 255/70 BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM2 tires 

• Aftermarket front bucket seats upholstered in black and gray cloth 

• Traditional Land Rover aluminum body construction 

Features 

• Diamond-plated fender top and rocker-panel trim 

• Front skid plate 

• Union Jack fender decals 

• LED lighting 

• Driving lights  

• Tubular side steps 

• Window rain guards  

• “Alpine” windows 

• Mud flaps 

• Tow ball 

• Heater  

• Power windows 

• USB charging ports 

• Rubber floor mats  

• Center console with storage and cup holders 

• Recent maintenance includes: 

  • Replaced front brake rotors, pads, hardware, and brake lines 

  • Replaced front right wheel bearings with new units, replaced grease seal 

  • Rebuilt hub assemblies with all new seals and gaskets in including swivel seal, serviced hubs with proper grease  

  • Rebuilt third member with new gasket and serviced with gear oil 

  • Replaced both front u-joints with new units 

  • Cleaned out engine computer manifold sense line 

  • Rear timing cover bolt hole stripped, replaced rear cover with new unit  

  • Replaced both camshafts and replaced all 16 hydraulic lifters, reinstalled cams with new seals and replaced valve cover gaskets 

  • Replaced fuel filter with Micro Guard 33595 

  • Reinstall loose accessory panel on dashboard 

  • Muffler replaced at R&L Mufflers in Clearwater, Florida 

  • Replaced red backup light and necessary lamps to get all vehicle lights working properly. This included replacing the emergency light switch. All turn signals, running lights and brake lights now work normally.  

Known Imperfections 

• Runs a little bit rough 

• No air conditioning  

• Grinds sometimes when shifting into second gear  

• Sometimes when it rains there is water on the floor in front of the seats 

• Damaged passenger inner door panel 

• A bit rusty underneath 

Included 

• Keys 

 Ownership History 

This imported 1997 Land Rover Defender 90 shows 153,971 km (about 95,673 miles). 

Additional Notes 

Sales Tax Notice to Arkansas, Mississippi, and West Virginia Bidders: Because this car is located in Florida, Hagerty Marketplace may be required to collect and remit Florida sales tax on your purchase, even if you plan to register it outside of Florida. Unlike most other states, the states of Arkansas, Mississippi, and West Virginia may not provide a full credit against sales taxes paid to Florida. For additional information, please consult this publication and your own tax advisor regarding sales taxes applicable to cars located in Florida that are sold to residents of another state.