2006 Land Rover Defender 90 TD5

Finished in Tonga Green Metallic, this is easily one of the finest unrestored vehicles of its type – and while we yield to no-one in our admiration for a well-fettled, extensively modified example, there’s something wonderful in finding a clean, unadulterated one like this.

This 90 TD5 is finished to workhorse specification with a versatile hardtop, has no bling whatsoever with only a few well-judged modifications that add to its already considerable practicality. The seller is a lifelong Land Rover and Range Rover owner, and chose this one after a long search for the right vehicle.

The owner before him confessed to it having had a very easy six years in his hands, being maintained religiously by a Land Rover specialist throughout. Only in the care of the seller since September this year and still showing only 70,000 miles on the odometer, he’s being forced to sell it because a recent knee replacement has left him unable to drive.

The Tonga Green Metallic paint hints that this is no ordinary Defender, something its body-coloured roof and light grey front end confirm. It’s straighter than the average too, and free of the sort of battle-scars almost every older Landy wears with pride.

Later models like this one had zinc-plated doors, a protective element that helps explain why these ones are in such good condition. There’s none of the corrosion or white crispiness you see on so many earlier examples – and there’s no bubbling around the bulkhead either.

The five-spoke alloy wheels, which are in an excellent condition, continue the up-market workhorse theme; this is a Defender that is as comfortable in the West End as it is at your local livestock market.

It is fitted with a matching set of General Grabber TR all-terrain tyres too; the fronts are newer than the rear pairs having been fitted in May 2021, so they have hardly covered any miles at all.

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. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

As for optional extras we keep mentioning, the Defender has a full set of four mudflaps and a pair of sidesteps, all of which were fitted in 2020.

Chequerplate on the wing tops gives you somewhere to put your mug of tea, while the same stuff on the bumper means you can step up on it without causing any damage.

The spare wheel is held securely in a swing-away wheel carrier from Mantec, a well-engineered way to release the door hinges of their load-bearing role. Looks great too, obviously.

Every single Defender rear crossmember we’ve ever seen shows a little corrosion, but this one’s patina has been removed via a localised respray. This means even this, the Defender’s Achille’s heel when it comes to presentation, looks excellent. There’s a towbar there too, but then you knew that, didn’t you?

The good news continues with the condition of the hinges and various external fixings, all of which are way better than you’re probably used to seeing. This is a very well cared for example indeed.

Of course, there are a few minor marks here and there like the scratches around the driver’s door lock (#78), the odd rusty screw (#84), the odd patch of corrosion (i.e. #88), and an occasional touch-up (i.e. #111). The windscreen rubber could also do with being replaced (#174).

As a working-spec model, you won’t find many gadgets to play with inside, but that’s okay because you get a set of beefy transmission levers with hefty rubber boots, bulkhead vents with the sort of controls you can operate with gloved hands, and lots of easy-to-clean black rubber mats instead.

You adjust the seats and windows manually too, and there’s no sunroof to leak. No air-conditioning either, and definitely no heated seats or steering wheel.

And yet, for all its working-class credentials, this is a Defender whose condition is really very good. Where you might be used to seeing frayed edges, worn paint, and rust this one shows nothing more serious than a light patina.

You get Exmoor Trim seats too, and a matching cubbybox. The former are very comfortable and in great shape, while the latter even has a pair of cupholders.

There’s an OE radio-cassette player in the dashboard and that analogue engineering means it’s all reliable - and if it does go wrong you won’t need a background in electronics to keep it all working; for many of us, this is exactly why we love ‘em.

The floor mats, door cards, bulkhead lining and seat box covering are all very good, and the rear loadspace contains two fold-away bench seats, so you can carry people or goods depending on your mood. It’s been neatly lined with what seems to be a genuine Land Rover rubber mat system, so should be easy to keep clean.

Flaws? Well, there is the odd area of paint loss (i.e. #56) but that’s about it.

As everyone knows, the number one issue with Defenders of this age is structural corrosion but this isn’t an issue here thanks to a long-standing underseal treatment. Despite being applied a few years ago, it’s holding up well and remains in very good order.

It’s been touched up with Waxoyl, and the net result is that no MoT tester has ever mentioned rust.

Please take a look at the comprehensive photo album to reassure yourselves, noting the recent suspension components – and absence of the oil-and-cow poo mix most are thickly coated with.

The engine bay is very good, with only a little surface corrosion on the odd component marring what is otherwise an excellent finish. As you can see, the care extends to the Land Rover’s mechanical condition, which means it fires into life with alacrity.

The Defender’s MoT certificate is valid until September 2023.

It comes with the service history booklet and owner’s manual plus a selection of old MoT certificates. More importantly, it doesn’t lack for servicing and maintenance paperwork, with a host of old invoices from main dealers and independent specialists alike.

The maintenance history can be summarised thus:

• 28/09/2007 and 5,808 miles – service by Stratstone Aylesbury

• 15/09/2008 and 12,505 miles – service by Drive-In of Aylesbury

• 05/09/2009 and 19,921 miles – service by Drive-In of Aylesbury

• 04/09/2010 and 28,011 miles – service by Drive-In of Aylesbury

• 03/09/2011 and 36,598 miles – service by Drive-In of Aylesbury

• 15/09/2012 and 43,286 miles – service by Drive-In of Aylesbury

• 14/09/2013 and 49,586 miles – service by Drive-In of Aylesbury

• 27/09/2014 and 54,209 miles – service by Drive-In of Aylesbury

• 11/09/2015 and 57,283 miles – service by Drive-In of Aylesbury

• 31/03/2016 and 63,633 miles – service by Stratstone Aylesbury

• 22/08/2017 and 65,184 miles – service by W.J. Joyce (Eng) Ltd of Trowbridge

• 13/09/2018 and 66,597 miles – service by W.J. Joyce (Eng) Ltd of Trowbridge

• 30/04/2020 and 68,514 miles – service by W.J. Joyce (Eng) Ltd of Trowbridge

• 19/08/2022 and 70,422 miles – oil service by Ricky Fenby Ltd of Frome

Aside from regular servicing and replacement of consumables, we are not aware of this vehicle ever having required major work. It’s likely that the next owner will be able to enjoy the same a similarly simple ownership.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clean and it comes with two sets of keys.

Vehicles like this are a rarity; largely original and very well maintained, this one seems to have escaped the sort of gentle deterioration that seems to afflict most of the ones you’ll have looked at.

Unrestored and seemingly unblighted by any serious mechanical maladies throughout its life, this one is a rare survivor and a good example of what a great vehicle the Defender is if it’s cared for properly.

With all that in mind, we think it’ll fetch somewhere between £16,000 and £22,000. Throw in a few hundred pounds and some of your time to rectify its few faults and you’ll have yourself a flawless slice of British history.

Which means you should do very well indeed when the time comes to pass it on. Assuming, of course, you can bring yourself to let it go…

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’.