On sale since 1948, the Land Rover was historically the vehicle of choice for those wanting a back to basics go anywhere workhorse – and the hard as nails Defender from continued that tradition. It was launched as the replacement for the existing 90, 110 and 127 models, which themselves had usurped the old ‘Series’ models to usher in the coil-sprung era from 1983 onwards. You’ll sometimes hear these earlier models referred to as Defenders, but the name didn’t appear until September 1990, when it was adopted to avoid confusion with the new Land Rover Discovery.
The biggest change of this new era was the fitting of the 200Tdi engine from the Discovery – an updated version of the old 2.5-litre turbodiesel with an alloy cylinder head, direct injection, intercooling and other detail changes. The engine was available alongside the V8 and 2.5-litre naturally aspirated diesel and petrol engines, but these were rare.
The station wagon ‘Country’ model was reintroduced in 1992 and the first special edition – the 90SV – arrived with a revised soft top arrangement, metallic paint and the Range Rover’s rear axle with disc brakes, which become standard with the arrival of the 300TDi in 1994. Boasting reduced emissions and increased refinement, it was mated to a new five-speed gearbox (the R380) which replaced the old Leyland unit which first saw service in 1983. In 1998 the 300Tdi was replaced by the Td5, an all-new five-cylinder turbodiesel derived from the Rover L-Series unit, featuring electronic ignition management as opposed to the 300’s all-mechanical set-up, marking the end of an era of unsophisticated bliss for many.
The Defender continued to evolve, a big update in 2007 including an extensive makeover inside and the replacement of the Td5 with a 2.4-litre TDCi turbodiesel from the Ford Transit, mated to a new six-speed gearbox. In 2010, the engine was replaced by a more efficient 2.2 version – bringing the Defender story to its final chapter before production conclude at the start of 2016.
While engines, comfort levels and technology inevitably evolved over time, the Defender’s iconic box-like shape remained largely unchanged. Competition from Japanese manufacturers diminished Land Rover’s dominance of the serious off-road market, but nevertheless the Defender still has a strong and loyal worldwide following, with superb club and specialist backing.
What this means for owners is a huge knowledge base, with virtually every one of the Defender’s weak points identified, as well as a plentiful supply of largely inexpensive spares. Here’s what you need to know.
