1992 Land Rover Defender 110 County Station Wagon V8 Manual

Highlights

• Rare unmodified V8 Defender 110

• Desirable County trim model

• Retaining original chassis/engine - suitable for export

• In current ownership since 2000

• Believed to be ex-Land Rover demonstrator vehicle

Overview

The Land Rover Defender is a British automotive icon that is famously said to be the first vehicle that many people ever see, thanks to its globe-trotting abilities and rugged nature making it the vehicle of choice for early overland explorers, competition rallies and David Attenborough types. Having been in production (in various guises, if you include the Series and pre-defender 90 and 110) for 67 years and remaining visually identifiable throughout, the 1990s saw the Defender become more of an everyday vehicle with the introduction of the 200 and 300tdi models, and the V8-engined variant, as seen here.

This V8 110 also benefits from being a ‘County’ trim model, giving this Station Wagon further comforts such as a sunroof, fabric-covered seats, high-backed second row seats and a heated rear windscreen with wiper. Such luxuries! And a rare combination of V8 muscle, manual gearbox, County trim and a Station Wagon.

It is believed by the seller to have been originally supplied as a Land Rover dealership demonstrator vehicle, L609 WAC, which then passed into the care of a private owner, before being purchased by the current owner in June 2000 from Marshalls Land Rover of Cambridge. This 110 was then driven to Devon by the owner’s son-in-law, where it has lived its life ever since.

Garaged throughout its current ownership tenure and used for fishing trips, days out and light forestry duties, this is an unmodified (with the exception of some Wolf-style wheels) example of the eminently desirable 110 V8 County, which is ripe for export, sympathetic updating or full restoration - the choice is yours.

History and documentation

• Registered 01 Apr 1994

• Collection of invoices and old MOT certificates

• Two keys

• Current MOT expires 17 Jun 2025, with advisories for the NSF track rod end ball joint dust cover, nearside exhaust leak, hydraulic leak on the power steering box, slight play in the steering box drop arm, and a worn NSR lower shock absorber bush

• V5 present in owner’s name

• Old-style V5 in owner’s name

• Previously owned by the late General Sir Frank Kitson who wanted a petrol model as he loathed the smell of diesel from his army days!

• New front brake pads, rear ARB links, new front shock absorbers in Dec 2019 at 43,245 miles

• Repairs to the nearside rear chassis outrigger, new rear quarter chassis, new front chassis cross tube, new fuel pipes, new starter motor, new bonnet cable fitted Jan 2017 at 39,407 miles

• HPI clear

Interior

• The interior of this County Station Wagon (CSW) is heavily worn from years of use and enjoyment, particularly in the rear due to having spent years carrying dogs

• Much loved as it is, the whole of the interior would benefit from the attentions of a valeter to make the best of it

• The dashboard and front seats are in good condition, with no heavy damage or rips that we could see

• Up above, the headlining is sagging (as is the case for most Defenders of this age) and shows significant staining and moisture damage

• The driver’s door shows corrosion around the bottom of the frame

• The door cards all require a full cleaning and valeting

• In the middle, the second row of (full height) seats are in fair condition, with the aftermarket Exmoor trim covers bunching but not obviously ripped or damaged (fitted prior to current owner’s tenure)

• The load area with its sideways-oriented bench seating requires a full refurbishment to bring it back to its best, as the carpets and seat covers have seen heavy wear

• Up front, the arm rest/cubby box between the seats has been repaired with tape

• The rear covers of the second row seats have been replaced with plyboard sheet 

• There are no reported faults or issues with any of the switches, gauges or warning lights

Exterior

• On the outside, the paintwork and body displays a wonderful patina from years spent as a working vehicle, and consequently has a wonderful character about it

• The lower edges of the wings, doors and quarter panels exhibit the typical paintwork bubbling, flaking and reaction that is so commonly seen on Defenders of all eras

• Alongside the flaking paintwork, there are a number of scratches, scuffs and dents to be noted, as shown in the photo gallery

• The aftermarket Wolf-style wheels look fantastic, and give this 110 a rugged appearance to match its off-road capabilities

• The windscreen seal is cracked/perished, and many of the rubber gaskets and seals around the vehicle would benefit from replacement (though it will likely still leak in the rain - it is a Defender, after all!)

• Elsewhere, the paint on the front light guards has flaked off, and at the rear, the reversing light lens / housing has cracked

• The cover for the spare wheel has perished with age, but the spare wheel itself boasts an unused General Grabber A/T tyre

• All four wheels are shod in General Grabber A/T tyres.

Mechanical

• 3.5-litre naturally aspirated Rover V8 engine

• Five-speed manual gearbox with hi and lo-range 

• Permanent all-wheel drive, with locking differentials

• Other than the aforementioned Wolf wheels, there are no known modifications

• Under the bonnet, it is clear this engine bay would benefit from an afternoon of detailing and scrubbing

• The exposed surfaces, fixings and ancillaries are all weathered and show some areas of corrosion

• The chassis is said to be original, save for the replacement rear quarter chassis fitted in Jan 2017

• At the rear, the back section of the exhaust is corroded, though the mid-section looks to have been replaced

• The 3.5-litre Rover V8 sounds fantastic and gives this 110 an audible edge over its Tdi-engined brethren

• There are no reported faults or causes for concern with the engine or drivetrain, which is said to be in good order by the seller

• Finally, the seller tells us that both the chassis and bulkhead are in very good condition - a key point of note for any potential Land Rover owner

Summary

A County-specification Defender 110 is always desirable; match that with a throaty V8 engine and a manual transmission, and this is one very desirable Defender indeed. 

Yes, there is plenty of patina, and unless you’re planning on using it as a working vehicle, the interior requires a thorough cleaning and partial refurbishment at the very least, but this is a fantastic basis for any Land Rover enthusiast looking for a rolling restoration that can be used and enjoyed, or perhaps a candidate for full or even mechanical only restoration. 

For those that have their sights set overseas, the seller tells us that this example is suitable for export thanks to retaining its factory chassis and engine, meaning the shores of America could be the next home for this icon of British engineering.

As with any Land Rover, the possibilities are endless, and the choices are plentiful. Whatever you do with this 1994 Defender 110 V8, it’s certain to put a smile on your face in the way that Land Rovers always seem to do.

To arrange a viewing, please request this in the Q&A section. You can click through to the seller's profile and use the 'Email Me' function to arrange a viewing privately. This seller is located in Yelverton, Devon.