Starting with a clean, rust-free “survivor” status donor vehicle, this ’94 110 went through our comprehensive full restoration procedure and was built to our “Safari” specification. 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, and other shortcuts that are often seen on cut-corner restorations.
Prioritizing drop-dead reliability, analog electronics and field-repairability, the vehicle maintains its original 200tdi 2.5L Turbodiesel Motor – a fan favorite for crossing continents in one piece.
The drivetrain was serviced, overhauled, and upgraded sympathetically to ensure reliable, better-than-new daily-driver performance.
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 accomodate 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 Arran Beige.
Orignal panels are preserved, stripped, epoxy primed, 2K primer/sealered, and finally top coated. This is the “done right, done once” appraoch.
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:
This 110 maintains its original numbers-matching factory-installed 200tdi 2.5L Turbocharged Diesel motor. A fan favorite among those who enjoy crossing continents without touching pavement, the 200tdi is right in the sweet spot of performance, field-repairability and off-road/on-road blended capability. When properly maintained, these motors can approach half-million-mile status before requiring complete overhaul.
The engine was removed from the chassis during our restoration process and
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.
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 Goodyear Wrangler MT/R tires (235/85R16), they are paired with heavy duty rock-sliders making this a very-capable trail-ready rig. A swing-away rear spare carrier ensures the upgraded wheel weight doesn’t burden the tailgate.
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.
Exmoor Trim’s exceptional moulded matting system was installed. Covering the bulkhead/firewall, transmission tunnel, floors and seat box, this system offers superb noise-reduction, thermal insulative properties and a clean/sleek utilitarian feel. 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 alcantara/microsuede in light grey for the headliner and a darker tone for the sides, echoing the original palette while 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.
Registered on April 5, 1995, this Defender has had just two owners from new, with the second retaining it for 27 years as his only vehicle. Sourced directly from Florence, Italy, its dry-climate life and indoor storage have preserved its condition. With matching numbers, original paint, and a raft of mechanical and cosmetic upgrades, this 90 blends heritage with usability.
Location: Connecticut, USA
Title: Montana Title
GALLERY
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