1999 Landrover Defender 90 TD5

Location: Fountain Hills, AZ

Why It's Curated: This 1999 Land Rover Defender 90 TD5 is for sale in Fountain Hills, AZ. This RHD TD5 represents the pinnacle of classic Defender engineering, featuring the legendary 2.5L turbodiesel that's coveted for its reliability and torque delivery. What sets this example apart is its comprehensive recent restoration—a complete body respray in striking Zandvoort Blue with gloss black accents, paired with a fully refreshed interior including new seats, carpets, headliner, and center console. The extensive maintenance record demonstrates meticulous care, with over $10,000 in recent mechanical work including Bilstein shocks, new fuel system components, and drivetrain servicing. Most importantly, the body and chassis show no rust—a rarity for Defenders of this era. The honest disclosure of minor maintenance items reflects transparent ownership, while the overall condition suggests a vehicle that's been properly preserved rather than merely maintained.

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Model History: The 1999 Land Rover Defender 90 TD5 represents a pivotal moment in the model's 52-year production run, marking the introduction of Land Rover's sophisticated TD5 turbodiesel engine. This 2.5-liter five-cylinder powerplant replaced the earlier 300 TDI, delivering 122 horsepower and crucially, electronic engine management for the first time in Defender history. The TD5's advanced common-rail injection system and electronic control unit provided significantly improved fuel economy, reduced emissions, and enhanced reliability compared to its mechanically-injected predecessor. Introduced in 1998, the TD5 was specifically developed to meet increasingly stringent European emissions standards while maintaining the Defender's legendary off-road capability and durability that had made it the choice of military forces, aid organizations, and adventurers worldwide. The TD5 generation proved to be the final evolution of the original Defender formula before production ceased in 2016, making these examples particularly significant to collectors. Unlike contemporary competitors such as the Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series or Mercedes G-Class, the Defender 90 retained its utilitarian ladder chassis construction, live axles, and minimalist approach to luxury—characteristics that defined authentic off-road capability over on-road refinement. The TD5's sophisticated engine management system, featuring self-diagnostic capabilities and adaptive fuel mapping, represented a rare instance of modern technology seamlessly integrated into the Defender's fundamentally analog character. Today, TD5 Defenders are increasingly recognized as the sweet spot between classic mechanical simplicity and modern reliability, offering collectors the authentic Defender experience with the peace of mind that comes from proven electronic fuel injection technology.

Vehicle Details:
Year: 1999
Make: Landrover
Model: Defender 90
Trim: TD5
Drive: 4 x 4
Miles: 99669
Mileage Verification: Actual Miles
Fuel Type: Diesel
Transmission: Manual (3 pedals)
Number of Forward Gears: 5
Engine: TD5 2.5L 5 cylinder turbodiesel
Exterior Color: Zandvoort Blue, gloss black
Interior Color: Cream seats with black carpet
State of Registration: AZ
Vehicle Location: Fountain Hills, AZ
VIN: Available Upon Request
Title: Clean

Details:

Drivetrain, Suspension, Tires & Brakes:

Wheel Size and Offset: 16in diameter, 7in width, unknown offset (original).
Tire Brand, Model, and Size: General Grabber AT2, 235/70 R16 106T

Exterior & Interior:
Full body respray

Vinyl interior
- New full carpets - New front seats, covers, seatbelts - New rear bench seats and seatbelts - New headliner - New gear shifter nobs and leather cover, - New center console, - New steering wheel - New doorhandles All within the last year.;
Working Heat: Yes
Working Air Conditioning: No

Other Notable Features or Functions:
High and Low Range transfer case, tow hitch with electrics.
The body and chassis are in remarkably good condition. The body has no rust to cover up, you can see the doors, bulkhead, rear and rivets have nothing bubbling up.

Recent Maintenance:
- New Bilstein front & rear shocks (Feb 2025) - New front shock towers and spring seats (Mar 2025) - New diesel fuel filter (Sep 2024) - New Terrafirma steering damper (Mar 2025) - New starter motor (Nov 2024) - New injector harness (Nov 2024) - New camshaft cover gasket & o-rings (Nov 2024) - New oil cap o-ring (Mar 2025) - New turbo oil return gasket (Nov 2024) - New clutch master cylinder (Mar 2025) - New oil cooler & seals (Jul 2025) - New oil cooler housing and gaskets (Jul 2025) - New oil centrifuge and gaskets (Jul 2025) - New centrifuge downpipe gaskets (Jul 2025) - Oil filter and oil change 99,553 miles (July 20th 2025) - Coolant flush (July 20th 2025) - New rear differential bell housing gasket & fluid (Aug 2025) - New rear half shaft gaskets (Aug 2025) - New Turbo heat shield (Aug 2025) - New transfer case inspection cover gasket & fluid. (Apr 2025)

Mechanical, Rust, Cosmetic Known Flaws:
- Front diff pinion seal 1 drip per 1.5 days. Seal purchased & will likely be fixed before sale (not a difficult job). - Transfer case front seal 1 drip per day. I need to investigate. - Diesel tank seal leaks when filled over 1/2. I have purchased a seal kit and locking nut - will likely be fixed before sale. - Ignition barrel doesn't spring back after starting, so you need to twist back slightly to disengage the starter motor. A new barrel is less than $90 but I am looking to fix it internally with a new spring. All minor, and nothing that prevents it from being a daily driver or driven 1,000's of miles across country.