Land Rover Defender 90 V8

Land Rover Defender 90 V8

The Land Rover Defender (originally the Land Rover 90/110, renamed Defender in 1990) represented the ultimate evolution of the original 1948 Land Rover concept. Moving to coil spring suspension from the Series models' leaf springs transformed the ride and handling without sacrificing any off-road capability. The Defender became the benchmark by which all other off-road vehicles were judged — not for comfort or speed, but for sheer, unstoppable capability in the world's harshest environments. The 90 (short wheelbase) and 110 (long wheelbase) designations referred to the approximate wheelbase in inches. Engine options ranged from agricultural diesel fours to the characterful 3.5-litre Rover V8. The Defender served in armies across 100 countries, transported aid workers in war zones, carried supplies across deserts, and worked farms from Scotland to New Zealand. When production finally ended at Solihull in January 2016, the last Defender was signed by every worker on the line. Values immediately skyrocketed. The Heritage, Adventure, and Autobiography special editions from the final year are especially collectible. While a new Defender launched in 2020, purists consider only the original to be the 'real' Defender.