2009 Land Rover Defender 90 ‘Zulu2’ V8 Manual

Highlights

• 4.7-litre supercharged V8
• Manual transmission
• Leather interior by Ruskin Design
• Panoramic windows, suspension and brake upgrades
• Huge expenditure list

Overview

You might have heard of the Land Rover Defender. It sold quite well for quite a while. It went to quite a few places. And it’s still quite popular today, even though it went out of production in 2016.

But what you may not have heard of is the Zulu2 model produced by JE Motor Works. This takes an original Defender and adds a supercharged JLR 4.7-litre V8 engine, along with suspension and brake upgrades, and a four-branch exhaust system. And on top of these engineering improvements, the car is treated to a beautifully crafted leather interior with quilted leather and a chunky Alpine sound system. The panoramic rear windows complete the vehicle’s transformation into a sleek-looking modern vehicle.

This particular car has had one owner since 2009, and has clearly been well cared for. It was reportedly the owner’s spare second vehicle so never saw a great deal of use. Then in 2019 they decided to send it to the JE workshop to have the Zulu2 upgrades applied.

The car was stripped down and rebuilt to this superb higher specification, with plenty of additional sound proofing making it a more comfortable car to drive — along with suspension improvements including lowering and stiffening. At this time the owner also decided to have a manual transmission fitted in place of the original auto ‘box, for a more enjoyable driving experience.

As can be seen in the photos, the Stornoway Grey paint is very good and the interior remains excellent. And the chassis has been professionally treated for protection from the elements.

If you’re looking for a Defender which stands out from the crowd, then this Zulu2 example ensures you’ll be tearing away faster than most Land Rovers could ever dream of.

History and documentation

• Registered 30 Sep 2009
• Collection of invoices and old MOT certificates
• Serviced by JE Motor Works in July 2021
• The car has reportedly had over £90,000 spent to bring it to its current condition
• Two sets of keys
• Current MOT with no advisories expires 10 Apr 2025
• V5 present in owner’s name
• Only one former keeper, although we are informed that the current owner bought the car new but pre-registered with delivery miles
• The car was used as the owner’s second vehicle until they decided to have it converted to Zulu2 specification in 2019
• Since conversion, invoices show services in Mar 2020, Jul 2021, Nov 2022, Apr 2024
• HPI clear
• Private plate BIG 90 is not included in sale but is available by separate negotiation
• London ULEZ compliant

Interior

• Leather interior trim professionally fitted by Ruskin Design
• The seats, door cards, and dashboard feature two-tone, diamond-stitched upholstery
• The upholstery shows very few signs of use throughout
• Plenty of extra soundproofing was fitted during the car’s conversion, making it more comfortable on a long journey
• Manually adjustable seats
• Spacious storage compartment in the centre console
• Leather-trimmed footwell carpets
• Door cards free from scuffs and scrapes
• Moto Lita steering wheel
• Air conditioning
• The leather-trimmed dashboard remains in good condition
• Simple, uncluttered instrument cluster
• Alpine stereo professionally fitted with double DIN head unit, subwoofer and speakers at a cost of £3,206
• Apple CarPlay
• The front and rear view cameras display through the head unit screen
• Fold-away and removable rear seats
• Sizeable load carrying capacity
• Tinted rear windows
• Heated rear windscreen
• There is a little creasing to the headlining above the driver’s door
• Bespoke chequer plate style matting fitted in the rear, which appears to have only had light use

Exterior

• Still wearing its original Stornoway Grey paint, this Defender is beautifully presented throughout
• The Zulu2 upgrades set it apart as a very special example of this well-loved model
• The paint remains excellent throughout and clearly the car has led a gentle life
• Body panels in good condition, with no obvious dents or damage that we could see
• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Yokohama BluEarth winter tyres fitted
• Extra spare tyres included in sale
• The wheels are in excellent condition, without kerb damage or significant scratches
• Led front and rear lights
• Custom-made mud flaps fitted to accommodate the quad exhaust tips
• Masai panoramic windows give the car a sleeker appearance, with the glass in good condition
• In Oct 2020 the underside of this Defender was professionally treated by Before ’n’ After Rustproofing with their CR coating
• This comes with a transferrable ten-year guarantee and confirmation certificate
• The underside of the car remains very clean, with only a few spots of surface corrosion that we could see
• The wing mirror arms have been refurbished since the exterior pictures were taken, and the results are shown in the gallery
• In all, it’s a well-executed conversion that still looks fabulous

Mechanical

• 4,698 cc JLR supercharged petrol V8 engine
• Produces 475 bhp and 480 lb ft
• Six-speed manual transmission
• The car started life with an automatic gearbox, but was converted to manual by JE Motor Works in Jul 2019 at a cost of £4,320
• There are several other invoices from JE Motor Works on file
• These included upgrades to the suspension, brakes, and more
• Other servicing invoices from Nick Kerner 4 Wheel Drive, and Nene Overland
• The engine was supplied with hardened valve seats in order to be compatible with LPG fuel, should this be added at a later date
• Stainless steel quad-pipe exhaust system fitted
• Engine bay extremely clean and tidy
• All the hoses appear to be fresh and clean
• AP Racing brakes fitted
• Underneath, there is a little surface corrosion on some of the suspension components, but otherwise it looks very clean
• No MOT advisories
• The supercharged V8 starts with a growl and the acceleration is described as ‘relentless’
• Said to corner superbly, thanks to the lowered and stiffened suspension
• No warning lights reported

Summary

The Defender’s enduring popularity means that there are still people out there looking to improve and update the original design and this example shows what can be achieved with some careful upgrades and fettling.

While it’s a far cry from the car’s original agricultural and military roots, its supercharged engine and plush interior ensure you can travel in style and, when the mood takes you, in something of a hurry.

This car is with our concierge partner SPR Car & Classics in Newent, Gloucestershire. To arrange a viewing, please contact them on 07725 042124.