Found by the Pods Overland team in the dry south of France, we are pleased to offer this rare opportunity to own a fully-documented extremely low-mileage example of a 300tdi Defender 90 having just 31,000 miles since new. This truck underwent our comprehensive full restoration procedure and was tastefully customized to an Equestrian-style specification offering a bit more comfort than our expedition builds, while maintaining all the same trail/off road capability.
Creature comforts include custom leather upholstery, heated seats with matching dashboard and door-cards and a 3-man front row center seat. Our Dune Beige headliner/interior hardtop trim panels and our favorite, and most difficult to source, puma steering wheel bring this build up a notch in the fit and finish category.
The vehicle was completely disassembled; the chassis, along with every single steel underbody component was sandblasted to white metal and powder-coated for extreme corrosion-resistance allowing for year-round daily use in all climates.
All of the factory spot-welds are present along the tub and surrounding panels, a testament to the clean original bodywork free of filler, patch panels, etc.
The drivetrain was serviced, overhauled, and upgraded sympathetically to ensure reliable, better-than-new daily-driver performance.
Paint & Bodywork:
The original body panels remain remarkably straight. Preserved factory spot-welds are proof of its superb filler-free original bodywork.
Rather than “scuffing and painting” doors, or swapping them with aftermarket pieces, we completely overhaul the original units. The original door skins are removed, the steel frames blasted to white metal, epoxy primed, and coated in an isolating adhesive before an epoxy-coated brand new aluminum skin is installed and the entire unit painted. This process eliminates the corrosion-prone factory door flaw and ensures long-term corrosion resistance.
In order to accommodate the larger tires and heavy-duty military-spec wolf wheels, a later-style one-piece steel rear door was fitted to replace the weak original without requiring an aftermarket tire-carrier unit.
The truck was completely repainted, inside-and-out, panel-by-panel with a 2K Single Stage Enamel in Land Rover’s Balmoral Green. The entire underside of the tub was stripped, epoxy primed, and coated color-matched 2k urethane Raptor Liner – The cockpit floors and inside of the rear tub retain a glossy smooth OEM finish.
Original panels are preserved, stripped, epoxy primed, 2K primer/sealed, and finally top coated. This is the “done right, done once” approach.
All steel and aluminum components are isolated with nylon, rubber or neoprene spacers to prevent bi-metallic, electrolytic corrosion that infamously brings these vehicles to their graves.
Engine:
Widely considered to be the greatest Defender motor that ever left the factory, the original, numbers-matching and ultra low-mileage 300tdi blends comfort, top-speed, on and off-road utility. When properly cared for, the 300tdi motor can reach a half-million miles before requiring total overhaul. It is the sweet spot for utility and comfort featuring a much quieter valve train than its predecessors and maintaining a fully analog, non-ECU controlled platform.
The engine was removed from the chassis during our restoration process and fully servied.
Along with oil delivery and conditioning, the cooling system is among the most vital systems in the vehicle. New high-volume aluminum radiator and intercooler units were installed along with a fresh water-pump, thermostat, and new hoses.
Transmission:
The 5-Speed manual R380 transmission and LT230 transfer-case also boast fan-favorite status as “bullet-proof” gearboxes, capable of withstanding heavy use off-road, and offering great driveability in town and on the motorways. The original low-mileage transmission has been serviced and functions flawlessly.
Chassis:
The original numbers-matching chassis is in outstanding condition, having been sandblasted to white metal and powder-coated.
Suspension & Underside:
Sharing the same treatment as the chassis and running gear, the axles were removed, sandblasted, and powdercoated. The suspension has been fully overhauled with the Australian Outback’s Old Man Emu shocks, springs and steering damper increasing the stock suspension height 1.5-2 inches, ultra-soft polyurethane bushings and new running gear hardware throughout.
Front brakes were upgraded with new discs, pads, and braided brake lines. Rear brakes, recently replaced by the previous owner, remain in excellent condition. All wheel bearings were removed, inspected, cleaned, and re-greased with new oil seals installed. A heavy-duty steering damper from Bilstein and uprated HD steering rods with new track rod ends complete the underbody mechanical work.
We’ve installed a set of 5 heavy duty “wolf” steel wheels, used by the British Ministry of Defense of military vehicles. These are the toughest, most resilient wheels for off-road use, and are beloved for their utilitarian aesthetics.
Mounted with stainless-steel lugs and clad with fresh BF Goodrich Mud Terrain (235/85R16) Tires this wheel and tire combination offers superior traction, durability and trail performance.
The interior of this 90 was tastefully upgraded with custom Lucari Solutions leather front seats, center console and 4 x inward-facing safari-style rear jump-seats. Widely preferred for its sleeker design, a later leather-upholstered Puma steering wheel was installed.
The original headliner and interior side panels/crash pads were reupholstered with our Dune Beige alcantara/microsuede elevating the cabin finish. Additional sound deadening and closed-cell foam have been added beneath all surfaces, including the roof, for enhanced refinement.
The rear loadspace is covered with an original Land Rover cargo matting system which protects the floors and wheel-wells while offering good acoustic/insulative properties and well-equipped to handle mud/debris.
First registered on November 6th 1997, this one-owner truck was found in Antives, France, its dry-climate life and careful ownership has preserved its condition. With matching numbers, a complete restoration and bulletproof provenance, this 90 makes for a perfect investment vehicle.
Location: Connecticut, USA
Title: Montana Title
Heritage certificate included
GALLERY
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