2003 Land Rover Defender 110 TD5

Defender, Land Rover’s last bastion of true off-road utility. The modern Defender’s capability both on and off-road has never been in doubt, but it has lost elements of the functional reliability that defined the Land Rover name for decades.

A Defender silhouette has graced global tarmac and trails since the late 1940s, but for many, there is a sweet spot in production. A sweet spot that blends modern reliability with classic usability, and that is so often found in the models produced in the early 2000s and fitted with the TD5 engine.

This example was supplied new in February 2003 by Arles Auto in the South of France. It remained in France until 2011, when ownership was transferred to a family member, and it was imported into Spain. Several years later, it was imported into the UK.

Externally, the car is finished in Zambezi Silver Metallic and sits on a set of 16” 5-Spoke Boost alloys. The exterior of the car is in fabulous condition, and thanks to a program of upgrades completed upon import into the UK, it features a host of functional and stylistic improvements.

The car wears a set of BF Goodrich A/T tyres and a KBX front grille, which helps to modernise the front end. Additionally, there are LED indicators, lights and daytime running lights, which are neatly encompassed into the front bumper. Light guards, a rear ladder and a full set of stainless steel fixings complete the exterior.

The inside is typical Defender, with rugged simplicity at its core. However, you’ll notice a tasteful MOMO steering wheel has replaced the original, a double-din Pioneer headunit with upgraded speakers and heated “Exmoor” seats. The interior shows very limited wear, in line with the odometer reading of less than 20,000km or 12,500 miles.

Under the bonnet, you’ll find the revered 2.5-litre 5-Cylinder TD5. The TD5 is known to be a reliable, long-lasting and powerful engine, in this case, even more so. Thanks to an uprated intercooler, filters, modified exhaust and a Stage 2 ECU reamp, it produces closer to 180bhp. A 40-50% increase over a standard example.

With power sent to all four wheels through a manual gearbox, transfer case and selectable diff-locks, you’re unlikely to find terrain you can’t cross. The extensive upgrades were completed in 2020, costing around £25,000.

Included with the car are the original owner's manual, purchase invoice and service records:

03/2004 – Serviced at 1,650km – S.V.A Land Rover Avingnon (FR)

06/2009 – Seriviced at 7,263km – S.V.A Vous Souhaite (FR)

07/2011 – Serviced at 7,660km – Trinquetaille Auto Arles (FR)

07/2020 – Service and upgrades at 17,902km – Bishop 4x4 (UK)

Defender popularity continues to boom, and for good reason; they remain as capable today as they were at launch. This example pairs a classic, simplistic specification with a highly sought-after engine and incredibly low mileage. The tasteful upgrades help to bring the car into a modern world, blending a lofty increase in power with additional creature comforts.

As with all our vehicles, an entire digital folder is available upon request and contains more images, walk-around videos, and scans of the service history. The car can also be viewed by appointment at our West London showroom.