1997 Land Rover Defender 90

The Land Rover Defender needs no introduction, it has always been an iconic 4-wheel drive vehicle from Great Britain with a long production span and is recognized globally as a trusty workhorse.

This 1997 model year Defender was born a North American spec 90 V8 hard top in white and has just benefited from an extensive 5-year, complete, nut/bolt restoration with many desirable performance upgrades. The rust free body was removed and the chassis was blasted and epoxy coated in gloss black. The body was stripped and refinished a brighter Frost White paint. Where this D90 gets really exciting is in its powertrain! A new 430 HP, 6.2L Corvette LS3 V8 from Turnkey Engines sits proudly in the engine compartment and gives this truck the power it so deserves. It also sounds the business with a mean snarl thanks to a custom Magnaflow exhaust system. The transmission is a much-improved, smooth shifting, GM 6L80E 6-Speed automatic that allows you to cruise all day long comfortably at highway speeds, something an original Defender would never do. Both front and rear axles were rebuilt as well as the LT230 transfer case and new 1310 driveshafts were fitted. The brakes have also been upgraded to Willwood 6-piston front calipers and 4-piston rear calipers with slotted rotors and also feature Hydroboost assist. The Wolf wheels were custom "widened" and painted white to match the body, they are wrapped with beefy 315/75/16 BF-Goodrich Mud Terrain tires. Wider fender flairs sit nicely around the wheel openings to better protect the body from the wide tires. A Ron Davis aluminum radiator with twin electric fans improves cooling and a Puma dual core-Air Conditioning and Heater will keep things comfy in all climates. All exterior lighting has been upgraded to LED including the headlamps and have ballist resistors so there are no warning lamp issues. The suspension was also beefed up with a 3-inch lift, Fox Racing remote reservoir shocks, heavy duty springs, poly bushings, and a Terra Firma HD steering kit was also fitted. This D90 is easy to drive around town and handles very well on the freeway, no jitters or wandering issues. Inside the cabin a new Puma style dash modernizes the look and you a top of the line luxury treatment with a full leather kit from Kahn. Beautifully crafted, quilted leather covers the racing seats, door panels, and partial dash. A nice thick, black leather, polished aluminum Moto-Lita steering wheel greets the driver for a very classy look. The headliner and visors are trimmed in black Alcantara and a NOS factory sunroof was installed. Power windows and remote locking are a welcome addition! The floors were treated to Dynamat for sound insulation and full black velour carpeting covers all floor areas with factory Land Rover rubber overmats placed front and rear. Other interior features include a Dakota instrument cluster, Alpine 7 touch screen audio system w/Apple Car Play, Android Auto, back up camera, Alpine S8 subwoofer, and Focal speakers. Safety wise, all new seat belts front and rear were installed and the truck has a frontal half exterior safari cage and an interior roll bar with cushion pads. Also noteworthy are a new front bumper, NAS rear step bumper with integrated hitch receiver, rear tire carrier, side steps, and a heritage mesh grill set.

This Defender 90 truly has it all and is ready to be enjoyed, the no expense spared build will surly impress all who are lucky enough to drive or ride in this awesome machine. Recently the truck was driven from California to Washington for shake down miles and it performed beautifully.