LINES IN THE SAND: Left-hand-drive Defender offered at No Reserve

Written by independent automotive journalist Roger C. Johnson

 

Crossing the block at No Reserve during the 2019 Northeast Auction is this left-hand-drive 1991 Land Rover Defender 110 Custom SUV (Lot #691).

 

In 1947, Maurice Wilks, the brilliant automotive and aeronautical engineer who would eventually become Rover’s chairman, drew a sketch in the sand on a Welsh beach. It depicted a vehicle that would go on to become one of the most coveted machines of its kind in the world ‒ the Land Rover. Capability and composure were its design parameters, and the products lived up to all expectations with flying colors, British colors. The full-time, all-wheel-drive creation was inspired by American Jeeps that had remained in England after World War ll. Since that time, the Land Rover continued to evolve and worked its way up the ladder of respectability to become king of the proverbial mountain ‒ when the subject turned to all-terrain transportation of the highest order.

No expense was spared during the high-quality restoration of Lot #691, a 1991 left-hand-drive Defender 110 custom that was imported to the United States in March 2019. The vivid red icon is a perfect example of why these earlier-model Land Rovers are attracting so much attention from collectors who want cool, historically significant and drivable additions to their stables.

Lot #691 offers full leather seats, an Alcantara roof-liner with factory sunroof, power steering, power brakes (with discs up front) and a 5-speed manual transmission. Dependable horsepower comes from the original 200Tdi, 2.5-liter four-cylinder, turbocharged diesel engine.

A lift kit adds to its menacing stance and provides for additional ground clearance over the unknown or unexpected. Special off-road tires leave a proper footprint, while an in-bumper winch with remote-control delivers additional safety and convenience.

Even after almost three decades, this machine still looks the part of an aggressive transporter of important people. It’s a classic sports utility vehicle that will never be confused for anything else on the road or mountain top. Selling at No Reserve, this fully functioning collectible is perfectly capable of eating up miles and generating smiles for years to come.

For up-to-date information on this vehicle, click HERE. For a look at all the vehicles on the docket for the 2019 Northeast Auction, click HERE.