The most desirable classic Defender variant returns,’ announces Land Rover Classic. Oooh, they’re bringing back the
300Tdi! ‘As a bespoke 5.0‑litre V8.’ Oh. They’re talking about the Defender 90 Soft-Top, which they’ve brought back as the latest in the line of rebuilt-from-notquite- new 90s and 110s retailing for the sort of money most people would like to be able to spend on a house one day.
Built to order, the vehicle ‘pays homage to previous generations of Defender Soft Top, including the sought‑after NAS 90 from the 1990s.’ Its contemporary the 90SV was even more sought-after in Britain, on account of you could get one, but the NAS 90 was a V8 so we can see where they’re going with this. Though whereas that model only had a 3.9 Rover lump (originally mated to an LT77 box), the newcomer puts its 405bhp and 380lbf.ft to the ground through an 8-speed auto.
We’ve experienced a number of Defenders with high-powered V8 conversions which were frankly horrible to drive (horrible and completely unlike a Defender, even a fast one). To try and avoid this, Land Rover uses revised-rate
coil springs, Eibach anti‑roll bars and Bilstein dampers which ‘have undergone comprehensive testing and development to ensure they meet OEM standards’ and create a suspension set‑up which is ‘specifically tailored to the unique characteristics of the 90 Soft Top and combines traditional Defender capability with superior comfort in all environments.’
Read the full article in the July issue of Overlander 4×4 –
