Used Car of the Day: 1997 Land Rover Defender 110

Tim Healey
by Tim Healey

I've said it before, but I have a weak spot for 1990s Land Rover Defenders.

So this one has me considering lottery tickets. It's a pricey 1997 Land Rover Defender 110.


It's left-hand drive, so it will be easy to wheel around these United States -- and Canada. The turbodiesel engine apparently runs well, and the mileage is an estimated 127,000.

Updates and upgrades include LED lights, 16-inch Land Rover alloy wheels, a new steering wheel, and a complete replacement of fluids and filters about a year ago.

It's a five-speed manual -- be still my heart -- and in addition to the engine, it appears the brakes and power steering function properly. The headliner is new and the gauges work.

There's apparently no rust and there is an aftermarket Bluetooth stereo.

There are relatively new mud tires on the rig.

Are there flaws? Just a few. Minor fluid "weeping" on the differentials and smoke puffs upon start up.

If the price wasn't similar to a Dark Horse Mustang, I'd be all over this Texas-based four-wheeler. Click here if you feel similarly.

[Images: Seller]

Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to the truth about cars first by  subscribing to our newsletter.

Tim Healey
Tim Healey

Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.

More by Tim Healey

Comments
Join the conversation
2 of 14 comments
  • Kwik_Shift_Pro4X Kwik_Shift_Pro4X on Mar 20, 2024

    I like this. About the age (and older) I'd look for in a Land Rover.

  • ToolGuy ToolGuy on Mar 20, 2024

    "this one has me considering lottery tickets"

    • If you had taken half my advice you would own the building you live in by now.

  • Theflyersfan I know their quality score hovers in the Tata range, but of all of the Land Rovers out there, this is the one I'd buy in a nanosecond, if I was in the market for an $80,000 SUV. The looks grew on me when I saw them in person, and maybe it's like the Bronco where the image it presents is of the "you're on safari banging around the bush" look. Granted, 99% of these will never go on anything tougher than a gravel parking lot, but if you wanted to beat one up, it'll take it. Until the first warning light.
  • Theflyersfan $125,000 for a special M4. Convinced this car exists solely for press fleets. Bound to be one of those cars that gets every YouTube reviewer, remaining car magazine writer, and car site frothing about it for 2-3 weeks, and then it fades into nothingness. But hopefully they make that color widespread, except on the 7-series. The 7-series doesn't deserve nice things until it looks better.
  • Master Baiter I thought we wanted high oil prices to reduce consumption, to save the planet from climate change. Make up your minds, Democrats.
  • Teddyc73 Oh look dull grey with black wheels. How original.
  • Teddyc73 "Matte paint looks good on this car." No it doesn't. It doesn't look good on any car. From the Nissan Versa I rented all the up to this monstrosity. This paint trend needs to die before out roads are awash with grey vehicles with black wheels. Why are people such lemmings lacking in individuality? Come on people, embrace color.
Next