The Rioja Red coachwork makes a pleasant change from the more utilitarian colours we usually see, and the overall finish is very good with no obvious damage and a good shine to the paint.
In addition to this, the owner has spent the past six years adding practicality and style in equal measure, fitting sidesteps and a rear towbar/step to ease access to the cabin, plus chequerplate on the front and rear wings, sills, and bonnet for protection.
A snorkel, plus the all-important wading kit for the differentials and gearboxes that almost no-one bothers fitting, allows you to ford rivers with impunity, something you’ll appreciate if the climate continues to deteriorate at the current rate.
The roof-mounted lights front and rear give you incredible vision no matter how dark the surroundings, so if wilderness driving is your thing then negotiating a mountainside in the dark will be a doddle.
Not least because the 16-inch alloy wheels – including the spare - are shod with matching BF Goodrich KO all-terrain tyres, tyres whose tread can be measured in inches rather than the lily-livered millimetres car drivers use.
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.
The wheels themselves have been fitted with 15mm spacers to give a slightly wider stance.
Other modifications include replacing the standard lights with LEDs all round, and the side repeaters are smoked to fit in with the red and black aesthetic.
The hinges for the doors and bonnet have been replaced with black items too, and four more lamps have been fitted to the front bumper along with two huge Wipac spotlights on the bull bar.
As for flaws, while no vehicle wears a patina better than a Defender, we can see the new owner might want to get the roof repainted as the underlying red is visible in places. While you’re at it, you’ll probably want to replace the rubber seals on the Alpine windows and the windscreen as they’re perished.
There are some scuffs to the nearside front wheelarch too, plus some corrosion to the bottom of the doors and the offside front wing. There is also a bit of rust on the towbar, rear crossmember, window frame, and front bumper.
