About this car
The Land Rover Defender 90 (Classic) is the short-wheelbase variant of one of Britain's most iconic 4x4s, originally derived from the Series III and launched as the 'Ninety' in 1983 before being officially renamed Defender in 1990. The 'Classic' designation distinguishes it from the all-new 2020 Defender. By the early 2010s, late-production examples were fitted with the 2.4L Ford Duratorq TDCi diesel producing around 122 hp, mated to a 6-speed gearbox. The Defender 90 features a permanent four-wheel drive system with a two-speed transfer case and coil-spring live axles — a rugged, utilitarian design virtually unchanged for decades. Its boxy aluminium body, exposed rivets, and jump seats in the rear have made it a global symbol of adventure and exploration. Production of the Classic Defender ended in January 2016 after 68 years of continuous Land Rover production at Solihull. Values have risen sharply, with clean late-spec examples commanding £35,000–£55,000 or more.
