Heritage Restoration
Heritage Series D90 - 300Tdi 5-Speed- LHD
Pre-Restoration
We acquired this Defender from the Carabinieri, which is the national military police of Italy. While most of the Italian military Defenders came as the Rover 2.0L T16 DOHC Gasoline engine, this one is one of the rare 300Tdi Diesel engines. The team didn’t waste any time stripping down the axles when the donor vehicle showed up at our Salisbury workshop. While we had it in the air, we decided to start stripping it down.
Strip Down
Disassembly of a vintage Land Rover Defender in preparation for preservation is a meticulous undertaking that involves careful assessment of each part. Beginning with the exterior, the body panels, including the front fenders, doors, hood, are methodically removed, ensuring they are cataloged for future reference. But for the most part, it’s two solid days of taking stuff apart.
Mechanical
There are a variety of mechanical components of a Land Rover Defender restoration. The most essential elements are the engine, gearbox, transfer case, and axles. These are all stripped down and taken to our machining workshop to assess what needs to be done for the next stage of the refurbishment. The engine and gearbox are typically completely rebuilt, with the axles and transfer cases requiring extensive service.
Vehicle Details
Model | Defender |
Class | 90 |
Body Type | 3 door station wagon |
Model Year | 1998 |
Steering | LHD |
Engine | 300Tdi, 2.5, 4 Cylinder, Diesel, with EGR/Cat, 23L |
Gearbox | 5 Speed, R380, Manual |
Factory | Solihull, UK |
Sequential number | 152868 |
Paint code | Currently unknown. |
Build date | Monday 18th May 1998 ±1 days |