1998 Land Rover

This car is in auction on The Market website. The auction is LIVE now and finishes on 29th January. Price is an estimate. The Market the UK’s Largest Online Classic Car Auction company.

One of only 656 ever made and only offered between 1997 and 2001, this South African-built Defender has the benefit of a factory-fitted BMW straight-six, 2.8-litre, fuel-injected M52 engine. Yes, that’s right; this Defender has the same engine as the BMW 528i, 728i, and Z3. Land Rover, which was, you’ll recall, owned by BMW at the time, was under pressure to offer a high-power, petrol option in SA alongside the more usual diesel TDi after the demise of the in-house V8. This was the result.

First sold new in 1998, this lovely example was bought in South Africa almost four years ago by the vendor when he lived out there. Imported into the UK and fully road-legal with all fees paid when he moved back here a couple of years ago, it has now covered 272,000kms, or 170,000 miles. This means that it’s just about run in and is now limbering up for the long haul; after all, that gorgeous 192bhp/207ft/lb engine barely breaks into a sweat in this application.

The total production for the BMW-engined 2.8i was just 1395 units, which comprised 656 Defender 90 models and 739 of the long-wheelbase Defender 110.

Reluctantly being offered for sale, the vendor welcomes viewings from potential bidders in order that they can appreciate the condition and rarity of this vehicle for themselves; he knows of only one other in the UK, which means you’ve got a chance to bid on a true unicorn of a Defender.

The Land Rover was fully Waxoyled and resprayed here in the United Kingdom in 2017, so it’s looking wonderful and now is fighting fit and ready to do battle with whatever the next two decades bring. It’s kept garaged when it’s not being used, so you’ve no need to worry about any paintwork degradation due to tree sap, bird poo, or any other environmental pollutants.

The panels themselves are straight and free of ripples, and the gaps and alignment are excellent, too. The Aintree Green paint was clearly applied by a professional who knew what he was doing because the finish is fabulous, which isn’t always the case with Defenders as the metal they’re made of can be tricky to work with.

New exterior fixings were used, which only adds to the professionalism of the finish; we think the subsequent bill for just over £5,000 was worth every penny.

The owner has also upgraded the lights with LED versions, including a new LED front bumper along with a new rear wheel carrier and a set of side steps. It also has a rear step and tow-bar fitted. Chequer-plate trim protects the vehicle’s extremities. Eagle eyes may notice a second fuel cap, this is for a supplementary fuel tank – it can be a long way from town to town in the South African bushveld.

The alloy wheels are all in good condition and fitted with five matching General Grabber AT all-terrain tyres, all of which have plenty of tread on them as they’ve only covered about 1,000 miles since being fitted. (By the way, we applaud the choice of tyres for this application as they offer a good balance between grip off-road, and low noise levels and a decent ride on it.)

Oh, and you don’t need us to remind you (again) of the importance of buying a car that has matching tyres, do you?

Please note that the text above is just a brief summary of our listing. Please click on the link below, or visit The Market website for the complete description plus at least 100 photos and videos fully illustrating the car and its service history. All bidding occurs through our website, and our website listing is the best place to ask questions directly to the seller.

The vehicle can be viewed in York.

We are running online classic auctions continuously, please sign up on our website to receive a weekly auction-listing update.