The Montalcino Red coachwork, paint code 952, is so straight and neatly aligned that you would never suspect that it has a six-figure sum under its belt. There are no dents, dinks, scuffs, or ripples either, and even the fasteners that hold the doors, bonnet, and tailgate on are largely free of corrosion – and that’s not something we get to write very often.
Heck, even the thin restraining strap on the fuel filler cap is intact.
The Dakar Zero alloys from Evo Corse are finished in black. Fitted with hefty 265/75R16 BF Goodrich All-Terrain KO2 tyres, they’re completely free of scuffs and scrapes thanks to a winning combination of careful driving, massive sidewalls, and the shape of the alloy wheels.
Designed for “extreme off-road use …The spoke profile is fully recessed within the tire’s tread, offering protection to the spokes and mechanical components from stone chips and sand.”
The manufacturer goes on to say: “Additionally, the increased hump design allows for the use of very low-pressure tires, enhancing vehicle stability in the most demanding conditions.”
The tyres are in great shape too but then they left the factory with a tread depth that could be measured in good ‘ole freedom units rather than lily-livered, EU-sanctioned millimeters.
We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.
As for the rest, in an age when so many Defender owners appear to have placed the emphasis on looks rather than utility, it’s a pleasure to see that everything here has a practical purpose – and that very fact endows it with a presence that no cosmetic changes, no matter how well they’ve been done, can rival.
Take, for example, the four massive mudflaps protect the bodywork and following cars from the sort of fist-sized rocks the tyres are capable of hurling.
And the AFN canopy, which is uber-practical. Made of aluminium and imported from Portugal at vast expense, the double doors at the rear ensure access to the vast HCPU loadspace has never been easier. It’s also been painted to match the bodywork, with both it and the Crew Cab’s roof being finished in a contrasting matt black colour.
Other down-to-earth features include the high-spec Warn winch and steel cable, a heavy-duty bumper that includes a ‘roo bar with a pair of driving lamps bolted to it, the Safari snorkel, a height-adjustable towing bar and electrics, tubular steps on the rear corners, chequerplate on the front wings and bumper, and even an Anderson plug at the rear for the sort of high-amp 12-volt supply you could use to jump-start a tank.
The lights have been changed for LED jobbies too, so they’re brighter than standard and longer lasting while simultaneously drawing less of a current. All are in an excellent condition, as are the uprated headlamps.
As for flaws, there is a little corrosion bubbling under the offside rear window on the AFN canopy, around the windscreen, and at the bottom of the small offside rear window. There’s a good-sized chip in the windscreen in front of the steering wheel and a few stonechips on the front, albeit with most of them having been carefully touched-up. The offside rear door also has some peeling paint.
Oh, and should you want to revert to the Defender’s factory specification with an open pickup bed then you’ll be pleased to see that the original tailgate has been kept and is included in the sale.
