Thread: Defender admirer, maybe Defender Buyer?

The Defender name started in 1989, but none were sold in Australia 1989-91. They were preceded by an essentially identical vehicle simply called a "Landrover" with a number signifying the wheelbase in inches. Three or four wheelbases were sold - 110, 120, and 127, with a 90 (actually 93) not sold in Australia. In addition there was a 6x6 (rare). Before these were Series 1,2,2a and 3 leaf spring Landrovers. These came with a variety of engines over the years - four cylinder petrol 2 or 2.25, six cylinder petrol 2.6, eight cylinder petrol 3.5, four cylinder diesel 2, 2.25, and 3.9, the last being an Isuzu and turbo in the 6x6

Following the change to the Defender name, there has been no choice in engine - four cylinder 2.5 TDI 200 diesel for the first few years, then TDI 300 to 1998, then 1999 -2007 Td5 five cylinder, since then four cylinder Ford turbo-diesel 2.4, later 2.2.

All Defenders (and Landrover 90/110/130) are full time four wheel drive with a centre diff lock, live axles front and rear disc all round except drum rear on 1991-2 Defenders, transmission handbrake. Suspension is coils all round* with long travel. Some models have sway bars, some don't. Front axle is located by leading arms and panhard rod, and the rear axle by A-frame to a ball joint on top of the axle housing and lower links. All Australian Defenders, but not most ex-military equivalents, have power steering.

Defenders come in three wheelbases - 90, 110, 130. The 90 has been sold in Australia for only a few of the years they have been in production, and I believe only in the four seat two door wagon version. They are rare, but more common in recent models.

The 110 has been sold here as a two door trayback, five door wagon (5,7 or 9 seat), two door 'van', dual cab, with the five door most common.

The 130 came as a cab/chassis, trayback, ute, and dual cab with the same choices.

Prior to 1986 all Landrovers were 4 speed, Defenders 1986-2007 five speed (except 6x6 and military), since then six speed. No auto, although a few have been converted. All Defenders and their predecessors have a two speed transfer case.

Prior to 2007 all Defenders had a rather primitive dash, with direct vents below the windscreen. This was replaced with a more modern dash and a heating/cooling system that worked a bit better.

Once a Defender is more than perhaps six or eight years old, price is dependent more on condition and equipment than on age or mileage. Full service records are a big plus. Major costs to look for when buying are rust in the firewall and chassis.

Hope this helps,

John

* The 6x6, both civilian and military, have leaf springs on the rear two axles, with a load sharing arrangement between the axles.

That's a great post with heaps of great info John, thanks very much.

I always thought Land Rovers were just Land Rovers up until only a few years ago when everyone started calling them Defenders, I just thought every one was wrong, I never thought I could be incorrect still calling them Land Rovers .

I must admit, this has been long desire to own a Land Rover, sorry, Defender and i've only just begun the investigation into it all, but the bug is beginning to, maybe not so much bite, I think it bit 30+ years ago, but maybe it's beginning to finally come out of hibernation.

Thanks once again and I look forward to learning more.

John that's a great run down, good job ✅

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Just don't do it! I've had 3 of the bloody things.....300Tdi, Td5 and a 2.4 Puma the Cook won't let me sell.
Trust me, just don't do it.
AlanH.

Make your own mind up..don't listen to the naysayers. YOLO! An easy line to throw, however it's true.

We as a family have had sooo much fun it's just silly. We're off to Cape York later this year.......can't wait!

I actually bought mine without telling SWMBO, that caused the home scene to be a little tense..........
However the first time we went beach driving she was won over, then the next time 4WD'ing we ended up pulling out a Nissan Patrol from a bog hole..."Oh", she exclaimed......."this is quite a capable vehicle...despite looking like a Dinosaur"!

YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE.....nail your colours to the mast.....Go and buy it...you're Dead a long time!!!

Originally Posted by Rolly

....Go and buy it...you're Dead a long time!!!

LOL. Great saying, not sure I've heard that before.

Was just doing some looking. The Perentie, I'm guessing that's the military build, all the ones I looked at had only 30,000ks or 25,000 ks on them or around that and they were 1988, 1990 etc builds.

What's up there?

Did the County's come out with anything special?

Thanks for any help.

Heh 10G,

As a long time landrover owner here are a few pointers.

1. It doesnt drive like a "normal" 4wd. There are clunks, gear changes are not rapid, turning circle will annoy you etc.. Most of these "attributes" will grow on you as you become accustomed to it. - It takes a while.
2. When it "breaks down" (it will), you will want to sell it and curse the day that you bought it. But each breakdown is a learning curve, and you will know what to do next time to avoid that breakdown. Again - it takes a while.
3. You will hopefully not get annoyed by the amount of people that come up to you praising your vehicle choice, ogling it, walking around it etc.
4. Most of your friends will think your nuts for buying one. Rest assured, we are here to help you overcome that.

$20k should get you something pretty good.
All defenders, counties, 110's, 109's, series etc.. are all just reincarnations of what was originally built in 1948
As others have said, its not the mileage, but how well its been cared for.

Join the club.

Originally Posted by 10G

LOL. Great saying, not sure I've heard that before.

Was just doing some looking. The Perentie, I'm guessing that's the military build, all the ones I looked at had only 30,000ks or 25,000 ks on them or around that and they were 1988, 1990 etc builds.

What's up there?

Did the County's come out with anything special?

Thanks for any help.

Yes, Perentie is the military version of the Landrover 110. Most were built in the late 1980s, some were remanufactured to new and updated to a degree in the late 90s. These may be the low mileage ones, but don't forget that a lot of military vehicles see little use unless there is a full on war - some have seen deployment overseas, but most probably have not.

The 4x4 comes in a variety of variants, with fittings and equipment for various military roles, nearly all are rag tops. All have the Isuzu 4BD1 engine. They differ from the civilian version in quite a few minor respects - galvanised chassis, different electrical system, no power steering, removable door tops with sliding windows. Most only have two seats in the front.

The 6x6 is significantly different from the civilian version, and both differ markedly from any other Landrover. Both have the Isuzu 4BD1T engine. The military 6x6 has (mostly) a steel cab, where all other Landrover 110s have a mainly alloy body. They are also about a foot wider than the 4x4 or the civilian 6x6.

The term "County" is actually a trim level designation used on a wide range of Landrover and Rangerover models over the years. It has been adopted in Australia as a colloquial term to designate the pre-Defender coil sprung Landrover 110s and derivatives because the most popular model here was the five door wagon, with County trim, and the word "County" in foot high letters on the front doors.

These came with either the Isuzu 4BD1 or the Rover 3.5 V8 (other engines were offered overseas, and there are probably a very few have found their way here)

Most of the station wagons sold came with an integrated aircondioning system that meant losing the front vents. Not particularly effective when working, most have long since stopped working, and using an elaborate system of vacuum operated valves and flaps, involve a lot of labour to get working (and most parts unavailable). Most station wagons came with a Boge self levelling strut at the back. Again, most have stopped working, but can be repaired or replaced, but not cheaply.

The major "special" thing about the County is that they have stronger CV joints in the front axle, and the often come with the Isuzu engine, which, although heavy, rough, and not particularly powerful, is very durable and stands up to abuse better than any of its successors. (my next service is 600,000, never had the head off, and the sump has only been off to replace a leaking sump gasket - should be good for another few hundred thousand, looked after.) The major problem with them is that the newest is 27 years old!

Hope this helps (probably a few inaccuracies but anything too far out someone will correct)

John