RE: Land Rover Wolf | Spotted

RE: Land Rover Wolf | Spotted

Tuesday 24th September 2019

Land Rover Wolf | Spotted

The arrival of an all-new Defender has had little effect on the desirability of the original - especially when it's ex-MoD



After months of teasers, weeks of leaks and one of the most eagerly anticipated car launches in recent history, the dust has finally settled on the reveal of Land Rover’s all-new Defender. The firm must be happy with the reaction to its DC100-inspired 4x4 as it appears to have largely been positive, which is about as much anyone could have hoped for a successor to a car as iconic as this. But as PH noted at the recent Goodwood Revival, instead of treading on toes, the new Defender looks set to take a very different path to its forebear – and it’s obviously no accident.

When the Series 1 was launched in 1948, the world was a different place. The first Land Rover came in the aftermath of a World War so its simplicity, versatility and toughness were designed to help rebuild Britain – primarily by helping to feed the population as a workhorse on the farms. Today’s Defender very clearly has a different intention in mind. Its infotainment systems alone prevent us from calling it simple and we’re not expecting to see many getting sill-deep in the manure-strewn fields of the Yorkshire Dales, put it that way.


With the old Defender’s status set to remain unchallenged, then, it’s not surprising to see prices remain strong on the used market. Fair enough they’ve stabilised since the heady heights of 2015, when it seemed every man and his dog wanted to secure one of the last Defenders to roll off the line. But cars with history, a real story? They’ve retained plenty of desirability. Take today’s Spotted, for example, an ex-Ministry of Defence Land Rover, which proudly wears paraphernalia that illustrates the life it lived prior to being restored – and confirms that it is in fact a Wolf, not a Defender.

The Wolf, the militarised version of Land Rover’s Defender 90, needs no introduction. It’s as iconic as military vehicles this side of the Spitfire come, so no wonder the seller of this just-retired service 4x4 has decided to keep all that original charm. It comes in a fresh lick of NATO green with a matching set of steels, a genuine Wolf soft top and side-body spare wheel. It also keeps original army tools, including a bonnet-mounted spade, wing-located pickaxe and tow strap, as well as a jerry can and benches in the back. Underneath is the Wolf’s strengthened chassis and stronger rear axle, added to enable a greater carrying capacity out on the tough terrain of conflict zones. To improve its on-road performance, there’s a higher ratio transfer box mated to the 2.5 TDI’s drivetrain.


It’s covered 60,000 miles in service, but the seller says (well, shouts, as the ad’s all in capitals) that the restoration has been thorough. Certainly, the images suggest we’re looking at a like-new Wolf; further evidence comes from the freshness of the leather seats and dash plastics. It’s a far cry from the premium, comparably high-tech world of the new Defender, but that’s exactly what makes it so desirable. It also helps to explain how only about £13k will separate this 1998 car from the anticipated price of the upcoming entry level new Defender. But for a car that’s undoubtedly seen a lot in its 21 years of life, you’re paying for much more than the engineering alone. You’re buying into the story of an icon – one that looks set to go on for many, many more years to come.


SPECIFICATION - LAND ROVER WOLF

Engine: 2,495cc, four-cyl, turbocharged
Transmission: 5-speed manual, four-wheel drive
Power (hp): 111@3,800rpm
Torque (lb ft): 188@1,800rpm
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
First registered: 1998
Recorded mileage: 60,000
Price new: N/A
Yours for: £27,995

See the original advert here.

Find used Defenders here.



Author
Discussion

Maldini35

Original Poster:

2,913 posts

187 months

Tuesday 24th September 2019
quotequote all
Great cars these but I can’t help thinking the MOD kit would make you look like an avid reader of Guns & Ammo.

FiF

43,965 posts

250 months

Tuesday 24th September 2019
quotequote all
And guarantee you a swift entry into the Walt thread.

DoubleD

22,154 posts

107 months

Tuesday 24th September 2019
quotequote all
Thrashed for most of its life by a load of pongos, then sold to some idiot who thinks he is action man.

Billy_Whizzzz

1,991 posts

142 months

Tuesday 24th September 2019
quotequote all
Far too shiny. I’ll stick with this.

warch

2,941 posts

153 months

Tuesday 24th September 2019
quotequote all
'The first Land Rover came in the aftermath of a World War so its simplicity, versatility and toughness were designed to help rebuild Britain – primarily by helping to feed the population as a workhorse on the farms'.

Not true at all, the first Land Rover was designed and built for the overseas markets, hence being a utility vehicle with 4 wheel drive. The vast majority went to developing countries, largely in the former British Empire.



chelme

1,353 posts

169 months

Tuesday 24th September 2019
quotequote all
DoubleD said:
Thrashed for most of its life by a load of pongos, then sold to some idiot who thinks he is action man.
Haha! Very true.

Water Fairy

5,478 posts

154 months

Tuesday 24th September 2019
quotequote all
These were rubbish when I was in the engineers. Always breaking something.

I imagine some 40 year old virgin who still lives with his mum will be all over this before too long.

Maldini35

Original Poster:

2,913 posts

187 months

Tuesday 24th September 2019
quotequote all
Billy_Whizzzz said:
Far too shiny. I’ll stick with this.
I agree



KP328

1,806 posts

194 months

Tuesday 24th September 2019
quotequote all
As much as i love to drive a Defender the thought of driving about with a shovel on the bonnet is a bit cringey and the first thing i would do is remove it.( the photos of the older ones in this thread look better with a bit of patina )

N Dentressangle

3,442 posts

221 months

Tuesday 24th September 2019
quotequote all
Maldini35 said:
Billy_Whizzzz said:
Far too shiny. I’ll stick with this.
I agree


Me too


FerdiZ28

1,355 posts

133 months

Tuesday 24th September 2019
quotequote all
27k for a naff old land rover with no redeeming features apart from “it’s seen things, man”

Horrid to drive these things (was actually the first car I drove, at 14, as part of a CCF display at school).

Surely the abundance of these in the “oh they are actually crap against roadside bombs” new way of thinking would mean that the prices should be a lot lower?

I’m out.

Wildcat45

8,056 posts

188 months

Tuesday 24th September 2019
quotequote all
I'd paint it yellow, put in a V8 and try to make one of those soft top 90s that they sold briefly in the US.

The problem with ex-military stuff is that you don't know if it's led a relatively quiet life or whether it's been immersed in salt water by the Marines or thrashed around various parts of the world for 20 years by a bunch of squaddies.

Rozzers

1,658 posts

74 months

Tuesday 24th September 2019
quotequote all
I understand the sensible money on a Defender goes on the Utilities conversions with the better suspension etc. - albeit thats just what I heard.

A mate is also ex. REME and he off roads in an SJ410 and laughs at these.

Unsorted

298 posts

61 months

Tuesday 24th September 2019
quotequote all
N Dentressangle said:
Maldini35 said:
Billy_Whizzzz said:
Far too shiny. I’ll stick with this.
I agree


Me too

And me too.

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 24th September 2019
quotequote all
Unsorted said:
N Dentressangle said:
Maldini35 said:
Billy_Whizzzz said:
Far too shiny. I’ll stick with this.
I agree


Me too

And me too.
Mine's a bit shiny, but it is ex-MoD, although largely rebuilt since then.


Murphy16

254 posts

81 months

Tuesday 24th September 2019
quotequote all
I know how these get driven about and there's no way on earth I'd buy an ex-mod one. The hassle and paper work It takes at MT to declare any issues is sometimes ridiculous, these get crashed, dinged and mechanically thrashed all the time.

SidewaysSi

10,742 posts

233 months

Tuesday 24th September 2019
quotequote all
60k miles? Who believes that?

thelostboy

4,562 posts

224 months

Tuesday 24th September 2019
quotequote all
Blimey, how negative are you lot?

Looks great to me! Lovely shade of green; love the matching steelies and it adds to the romance of it all by having a history.

I see a guy every day in a G4 Challenge Discovery and also think it looks great though, so maybe something wrong with me. But i'm all for real-life Tonka toys.

Reciprocating mass

6,029 posts

240 months

Tuesday 24th September 2019
quotequote all
SidewaysSi said:
60k miles? Who believes that?
The barracks I worked at for 10 years most of the rolling stock just sat outside hardly ever used, untill it was due
It’s 6 ,12 or 24 monthly inspections and maintenance so yes I can see it only having done those miles
And wolf stands for wheel on left flank for anyone interested that didn’t already no

ianwayne

6,244 posts

267 months

Tuesday 24th September 2019
quotequote all
Brightwells sell these off regularly. Some are very low mileage from reserve stocks, or likely Cyprus. They usually sell for less than half of the asking price of this one:

https://www.brightwells.com/4x4s-cars-vans/4x4-car...

They have a poor online catalogue so I can't link to individual vehicles. Search for 'Wolf', there are 3 today. Been through more than once I expect.