Photo: Bring a Traller
Now that the old-generation Land Rover Defenders are subject to the 25-year rule that clears them of any obligation of complying with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, expect a flood of such vehicles to reach U.S. shores.
And we couldn’t be happier this is happening. Sure, there is the new, recently revived Defender to take into consideration if planning to go for a British-made SUV, but for some people, the older ones will always be better – especially if they come as pickup trucks.
As part of our Celebration Month coverage this December, we’ve found a number of decent Defenders now being sold in the U.S. This here is among the freshest of the bunch, in the sense that it made the trip across the ocean only recently, in 2019.
Fitted with the steering wheel on the side most of us consider to be the natural one, the Defender did not make the voyage to the new continent unprepared. While back in the UK it was refurbished, refreshed, and repaired to such a degree that it now looks ready to take on any Gladiator.
The Land Rover shows a new metallic gray paint on the body, replacement doors, wheels and tires, and a reupholstered interior. Mechanically, the brakes, suspension, and exhaust systems were overhauled.
But all of the above are natural steps to be taken when trying to sell a vehicle. The people doing it with this Defender went a few steps further and offer the pickup with a bunch of extras: roll cage, heated front seats, a backup camera, aftermarket air conditioning, and a Bluetooth stereo.
Engine-wise, we’re dealing with a 2.5-liter diesel paired with a five-speed manual transmission and a two-speed transfer case. The odometer reads 110,000 miles (177,000 km).
The Defender is up for grabs on Bring a Trailer, and it caused quite a stir there. With less than a day left in the process, the highest bid is at $50,000.
As part of our Celebration Month coverage this December, we’ve found a number of decent Defenders now being sold in the U.S. This here is among the freshest of the bunch, in the sense that it made the trip across the ocean only recently, in 2019.
Fitted with the steering wheel on the side most of us consider to be the natural one, the Defender did not make the voyage to the new continent unprepared. While back in the UK it was refurbished, refreshed, and repaired to such a degree that it now looks ready to take on any Gladiator.
The Land Rover shows a new metallic gray paint on the body, replacement doors, wheels and tires, and a reupholstered interior. Mechanically, the brakes, suspension, and exhaust systems were overhauled.
But all of the above are natural steps to be taken when trying to sell a vehicle. The people doing it with this Defender went a few steps further and offer the pickup with a bunch of extras: roll cage, heated front seats, a backup camera, aftermarket air conditioning, and a Bluetooth stereo.
Engine-wise, we’re dealing with a 2.5-liter diesel paired with a five-speed manual transmission and a two-speed transfer case. The odometer reads 110,000 miles (177,000 km).
The Defender is up for grabs on Bring a Trailer, and it caused quite a stir there. With less than a day left in the process, the highest bid is at $50,000.
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