1995 Land Rover Defender 110 Td5

This unique Defender is believed to have been built by Land Rover’s Special Vehicles Department and the first registered owner was Land Rover themselves. The owner takes up the tale.

‘On this Land Rover being registered it was used by Land Rover UK as a support vehicle for the Camel Trophy event. There were three support vehicles that were produced by Land Rover’s Special Vehicles Department. Registration numbers followed 237 238 239. M238 HVC was one of these vehicles that were given the numberplate as listed.

‘This Land Rover Defender 110 has been used by the owner for the last 20 years as a Safari vehicle. It has been tested as per constraints laid down by the council testing department, this being far more stringent than the basic MoT. After being MoT’d it was then tested to a higher standard, and any work required was completed in accordance with the testing station. Over the years it has been well looked after with almost every conceivable part renewed or changed.

‘It should be noted that it has a hydraulic winch that gives precise control and is known as a 824 SV Defender. It can be operated in or out of the vehicle. The battery is located under the front passenger seat with the appropriate wiring to power the winch.

‘The vehicle has a specially adapted air-conditioning unit which is fully operational and has been serviced regularly. This and many other features give this vehicle its own individual uniqueness.

‘M238 has been painted a particular colour green that the three recovery vehicles from Land Rover of the year were painted. No other Land Rover was officially painted this colour, it’s unique to the three vehicles prepared by Land Rover’s Specialist Vehicles Division. The chequered plating is again unique to the vehicle and is original. The full roof rack houses the main spotlights which are powered by wiring alongside the winch.

‘The torque of the engine is vastly different than the Land Rover Defender of the day and the new driver will experience this upon driving it.

‘The Defender is fitted with rear stepladders and a full rear standing base, which allows people to stand at the rear holding on easily. The full protection bull bars and front light coverings are again unique to the vehicle.

‘The engine breathing pipes attached alongside the snorkel were again believed to be fitted at special vehicles Land Rover. It has an engine cut out switch independently of the ignition under the steering wheel.

‘Like any vehicle it has some points that it’s only fair for a potential buyer to know:

‘The winch has not been used for several years and will require maintenance.

‘The air conditioning vents inside the vehicle need replacements.

‘The vehicle needs to be run – there is a lot of power being drained from the battery and when it isn’t being used the independent isolator should be switched to the off position.

‘The interior gearbox Gator could do with replacing.

‘The driver side door creeks slightly on opening.

‘The spare fuel tank under the driver seat needs to be reinstated, when done the lever inside by the driver’s seat needs to be switched over for the fuel to flow.

‘The original radio is fitted but does not work.

‘M238 is a unique Land Rover Defender with lots of history. There is nothing else like it out there.’

‘The current owner is selling this Defender because it was being used as a safari vehicle, taking groups of people over Exmoor National Park, but Covid 19 has brought this to a close and as a direct result the business as it operates at the present is being closed.’

Did you fancy driving around the world? Because if you did, you could do a lot worse than climb into this Defender and head south (that’s the way we’d go). It gives the impression it could cope with just about any kind of landscape you could throw at it – if this thing can’t get you there, you really shouldn’t be going.

The unique factory paint is a striking hue and has survived the vehicle’s exploits well. Flat panels and millimetre perfect panel gaps were never what Land Rovers were about, but this one is as straight as any other and although it’s clearly seen some action, it still looks as though it has a hell of a lot of life left in it.

The only area we’d want to sort out is the base of the rear opening door, as the alloy skin is starting to bubble here, probably as a result of corrosion between it and the door’s steel frame. Dealt with now, this would be a simple, localised repair. However, more importantly, the rear crossmember below the door, often a weak point on these vehicles, looks completely sound.

The 2.5-litre turbocharged five cylinder TD5 engine is widely regarded as the best powerplant Land Rover ever fitted, and at around 108k miles, this one should have several round-the-world trips left in it yet.

This Defender was used to take customers on safaris through Exmoor National Park so, as you’d expect, the interior is in very good order. There are seven forward facing seats, all in good condition. There’s also a roll cage for protection, in case you get it wrong driving up Mount Kilimanjaro.

The chassis is covered in thick rust protection and looks solid. Considering the stringent yearly council safety checks the vehicle had to undergo, this is no surprise.

The owner reports:

‘The vehicle is sold with 20 years’ worth of MoT certificates which verify the mileage of just over 108 000 miles.

‘Many receipts are also included in the sale for the new owner’s reference.

‘Prior to the owner placing the vehicle into the auction the transmission and clutch were checked, the vehicle had a full service and a far range of other factors were completed to fully prepare the vehicle for the next owner.

'The transmission box was changed and the clutch was also renewed,

This was carried out not because it was essentially needed but is because the garage completing the full service prior to sale of the vehicle suggested that it would be appropriate to do these two tasks at once

‘The vehicle is kitted out with all conceivable specialist vehicle fixings, please study the photos from the front to the rear and inside and underneath.'

‘In the Land Rover Special Vehicles Department the vehicle was adapted with a spare fuel tank under the driver’s seat, specialist under body protection was added, and separate electrics providing power for the winch and main lights installed.

‘The spare fuel tank was disengaged when Land Rover sold the vehicle but if the new owner wished it could easily be reinstated.

‘Although converted by the owner to front facing seats a few years ago (to seat seven people facing forward) it could quite easily be adapted to seat up to four more passengers.

‘The specialist wheels are cast iron with specialist tyres that are tubed – the vehicle has two spare wheels included.

‘It has an interior vehicle intercom system which has not been used, but is wired up if the new owner wants to use it.

‘The vehicle is sealed underneath and thus there is no rust on the chassis.

‘The seating is new and was refurbished in the last few years by the well-known fabrication specialists Exmoor Trim.

‘There is an amount of information that is supplied with the vehicle to the eventual buyer, MoTs and Invoices as applicable.

‘The vehicle has a relatively low mileage for its age which is backed up the MoT certificates.

‘It has had three owners in total, Land Rover UK being registered as the initial owners.

‘This vehicle is a specialist Land Rover Defender that is a one off and has the ability to cope with the toughest driving conditions.’

This is the kind of Defender American Land Rover enthusiasts love – it has all the kit you need to take it anywhere. Not only that, it was all installed by Land Rover themselves, so it’s all been done properly.

Round the World in 80 Days? That’s only 312 miles a day. What are you waiting for?

We estimate this Defender to reach anywhere between £17,000 - £27,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.