1997 Land Rover Defender 90 NAS

Location: Santa Barbara, CA

Why It's Curated: This 1997 Land Rover Defender 90 NAS is for sale in Santa Barbara, CA. The NAS Defender 90 represents one of the most consequential footnotes in American automotive history -- a federally compliant, right-hand-drive-converted icon sold in the U.S. for only a handful of model years before Land Rover pulled the plug on American imports entirely. This example carries the desirable 4.0L V8 paired with an automatic transmission, finished in Alpine White over a Slate Grey vinyl interior -- a clean, period-correct combination that suits the utilitarian character of the platform without apology. At 73,418 verified miles, it sits in a reasonable range for a nearly 30-year-old working truck that was presumably used as intended. Suspension has been upgraded with Old Man Emu shocks and springs alongside Airbag Man air suspension, a thoughtful pairing that improves load management and trail compliance without abandoning daily usability. BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM2 tires on factory 16-inch wheels complete the business-ready stance. California-registered with a clean title, this Defender suits a collector or enthusiast who wants a genuinely usable NAS example without the complications of a heavily modified or cosmetically restored truck.

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Vehicle Details:
Year: 1997
Make: Land Rover
Model: Defender 90 NAS
Drive: 4X4
Miles: 73,418
Mileage Verification: Actual Miles
Fuel Type: Gasoline
Transmission: Automatic
Number of Forward Gears: 4
Engine: 4.0L V8
Exterior Color: Alpine White
Interior Color: Slate Grey
State of Registration: California
Vehicle Location: Santa Barbara, CA
VIN: Available Upon Request
Title: Clean

Details:

Engine & Transmission:
Engine Modifications: No
Transmission Modifications: No

Drivetrain, Suspension, Tires & Brakes:
Drivetrain Modifications: No
Suspension Modifications: Yes
Old Man Emu shocks/springs & Airbag Man air suspension
Wheel Size and Offset: Factory 16”
Tire Brand, Model, and Size: BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM2
Type of Brakes: Stock power discs

Exterior & Interior:

Interior Material: Vinyl
Interior Modifications: No
Working Heat: Yes
Working Air Conditioning: Yes

Model History: The 1997 Land Rover Defender 90 NAS marks the end of an era: it was the final model year of factory Defender importation to North America, closing the short run that began when Land Rover first brought the utility Defender stateside in 1993. The North American Specification (NAS) trucks were heavily re-engineered to meet U.S. regulations—factory roll cage, four-wheel disc brakes, and revised lighting—and the short-wheelbase 90 arrived in 1994, initially as a soft-top powered by a 3.9-liter V8 and five-speed manual. For 1997, Land Rover sent the platform off with its most refined drivetrain: the V8 was enlarged to 4.0 liters with distributorless electronic fuel injection (roughly 182 hp and 232 lb-ft) and, for the first and only time, paired exclusively with a four-speed ZF automatic, the manual having been dropped entirely. Full-time four-wheel drive through the LT230 transfer case with a lockable center differential carried over. With only about 2,800 NAS Defender 90s built for 1997—part of roughly 7,059 NAS Defenders total across 1993–1997—and the 1998 arrival of airbag and side-impact requirements ending the line, the final-year cars have become among the most sought-after classic Defenders in the U.S. market.