Land Rover Defender 90 Panel Van, Red
Small but mighty! The car manufacturer Land Rover has been producing the eponymous vehicle since 1948, whose original development (1947) was initially intended solely for civilian use in agriculture. The first three model series were simply designated Series I, II, and III. It wasn’t until the fourth series (from 1983 onwards) that it was marketed under the names One Ten (110-inch wheelbase) and Ninety (90). Typical of Land Rover are the numbers in the model names, which indicate the wheelbase (90, 110, 130 inches) of the vehicles, even if some deviations are made to round the numbers. For example, the correct designation should actually be 93, as the wheelbase measures 93 inches (127 inches for the 130 model). The small Defender retained the “Ninety” designation until its renaming in September 1990. Following the introduction of the “Discovery” series in 1990, differentiation became necessary, and the Land Rover models were renamed “Defender.” Another new feature was the return, after 35 years, of coil spring suspension to rigid axles instead of leaf springs. The previously split windshield was replaced with a single, continuous windshield, and the fenders were widened with plastic extensions. Originally developed for civilian use, the vehicle’s robustness led to its frequent deployment on rugged expeditions, so it’s no surprise that the Defender can still be found in many crisis zones today.
