1997 Land Rover Defender

Located in our climate-controlled showroom, this 1997 Land Rover Defender 90 had a full tear down repaint and complete mechanical reconditioning. Originally sold new in Italy and later imported to the United States by Car Cave. For more information and to view our large inventory of Defenders, visit www.carcaveusa.com. A walk-around video is available on our YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/s88dSVrhQdA.
Financing is available through our lending partner Woodside Credit. Apply directly at https://woodsidenew.defidirect.com/Application/apply?id=32200. Contact us for additional lenders and financing options.
We can customize your Defender purchase to match your vision. From upgraded performance features and air conditioning to roll cages and accessory options, our team is dedicated to transforming your Defender into a one-of-a-kind masterpiece.
Highlights:
Camel Trophy Tribute
58K Original Miles
Fully Reconditioned
The power of this vehicle comes from the dependable 300TDI 2.5L turbo diesel engine paired to a smooth-shifting R380 5-speed manual transmission. It delivers excellent torque, great fuel economy, and long-haul durability. The engine runs smoothly and shifts great as we started with a clean low miles example for the base build. An entire mechanical overhaul, upgrades, and reconditioning work was completed on this awesome Camel Trophy build. What is the Camel Trophy? The Camel Trophy was an international off-road endurance expedition that ran from 1980 to 2000, often referred to as the “Olympics of 4x4,” where small teams navigated some of the world’s most remote terrain using specially prepared Land Rovers. These events combined extreme driving, navigation, and physical challenges in harsh environments such as the Amazon, Siberia, and Borneo, cementing Land Rover’s reputation for durability and adventure.
The exterior underwent a documented (ask us for pictures) full teardown repaint where the body was completely removed from the chassis and all glass removed. Refinished in the epic Sandglow Yellow (Paint Code LRC361) with all new seals, side glass, mounts, and hardware utilized during reassembly with the chassis also being refinished. The paint contrasts well with the black and metal accents including the Safety Devices NAS style roll cage, Insa Turbo tires, and steel bead lock wheels. A strong lifted stance utilizing the superb Bearmach blue lift springs (no longer being produced) upgraded steering and high quality Bilstein shocks yet not overdone. Moving inside we refinished the interior in a combination of high-grade brown leather with tweed inlay as a tribute to the era. The cubby box and rear door card were matched to the custom interior.
On top of the fancy looks we completed a comprehensive mechanical service and build at Car Cave USA which was made easier due to starting with a low milage Defender. The completed suspension was refreshed and upgraded with new Bearmach Blue lift springs, Bilstein shocks, complete set of polyurethane bushings, castor-corrected front radius arm components, extended brake lines, and upgraded shock turrets. This was not a budget lift kit but a complete upgrade for better drivability. We improved the steering system to support the larger tires and track properly down the road with a new steering gearbox, power steering pump and hoses, heavy duty steering rods, adjustable panhard rod, Gwyn Lewis drop arm conversion, Bilstein steering damper, and complete bushings. The axles and driveline were inspected and rebuilt with new bearings, seals, front swivels, extended driveshafts, complete brake service, and hardware. Engine work included a complete timing service, resealed oil pan, valve adjustment, valve cover gasket, new intercooler and upgraded silicone hoses, diesel fuel spill rail kit, fuel filter, air filter, oil filter, and oil change. The turbo was inspected and spools properly as a low miles vehicle should. The cooling and heating sy