It's a sad day indeed, but Vader is for sale:
1994 Defender Hybrid
For sale is my pride and joy - "Vader" the 1994 Defender Hybrid
- Based on a 1994 Discovery 200 TDI
- 92k Miles
- Repainted Matt Black (originally blue)
- Disk brakes all round
- Power steering
- Discovery Chassis cut down to 88" on Discovery coil springs
- Discovery anti-roll bars retained front and rear
- Discovery Engine
- Range Rover radiator
- Discovery uprated V8 R320 gearbox and transfer box (reconditioned just over a year ago by well known Landrover specialists "Gemm 4x4", fitted to this under 6 months ago)
- Brand new clutch, release fork and bearings
- Discovery axles with Range Rover differentials (front one overhauled a month ago)
- Front and rear differential protectors
- Front skid plate
- Recent replacement of front steering ball links
- Straight through exhaust with high level side exit pipe
- Non-EGR manifold and Garrett turbo
- Custom made large-bore intercooler pipe work
- Series 3 rear tub (fitted for the high-level fuel filler)
- Full external checker plate kit including wing tops, bonnet and sides
- Full internal checker plate kit including foot wells, transmission tunnel, rear door, rear bed sides and floor
- Classic style Cobra bucket seats and brand new Sparco 4 - point harnesses (original seatbelts included in the sale)
- Engine immobilizer
- Recent new front door locks (2 keys included)
- Recent new external front door handles
- Heater blower fan replaced last month (at great expense - blows nice and hot now!)
- Snorkel kit
- Heavy duty front winch bumper
- Front shackle recovery points
- Smaller sports steering wheel
- Black trimmed front head-lining
- Heavy duty roof rack
- Rear door mounted spare wheel carrier
- Insa Turbo Sahara Extreme tyres on nearly new black modular wheels
Points worth noting:
Every Defender of this age has them... leaks
The front axle drips slightly after a long run from the joint behind the swivel on the passenger side. The rear hub seal on the passenger side could do with replacing as it is a little weepy. Apparently both of these are a simple fix but I've not had the time to sort them yet.
Body wise it is sound. When the Defender was re-built and re-painted the bulkhead was replaced and it rust free. The bottoms of the doors are starting to show their age a bit but are still sound. The rear bulkhead has some holes cut into by the previous owner who had 6"x9" speakers fitted there. A bit of plate could easily cover that back up. The rear tub is a Series 3 pick-up item - fitted purely for the high up fuel filler (less chance of water ingress off road). It hasn't been offroad since it was re-painted so there are no dings or scratches in the paint. For those who haven't had Matt Black before it is a joy to wash and keep clean and you never have to worry about drying or polishing it.
The original seats and seatbelts were a bit past it, so I replaced them with the current Classic Style Cobra items and brand new Sparco harnesses. The standard seatbelts still work and are included in the sale - although they could do with a good clean. The Cbra seats are in well used condition but still comfy. The drivers seats is starting to show wear on the sides from climbing in and out.
I had a MUD console and CD player fitted, which will be coming out for my new project Defender - so there will be a cut out in the dashboard where the CD player was fitted. I'll leave all the wiring in place (professionally re-wired recently due to the previous owner's slightly less professional effort) so adding your own head unit will be a simple task. I'll include the MUD dash if you wish to use it but it won't have the CD player or switches.
It starts first time every time, and the power steering still feels nice and strong. I recently replaced the gearbox and clutch (with the view of continuing onto a full blown V8 conversion) with a heavy duty R380 gearbox used in the V8 Discovery - so gear changes are nice a smooth. The gearing is now slightly taller so fuel economy on the motorway is fairly good for a Defender. This also allowd the gearstick to be fitted further back in the cab, bringing it into a position more similar to a car, not tucked under the dash miles away like a normal Defender. The transfer box was also given a good cleaning before fitting and works fully.
The Defender is fitted with a tow bar, small drop plate and fully working electrics.
It does need a rear number plate light fitting before its next MOT - and I'll include that in the sale. The rear wiper isn't wired up, but all the mechanical parts are there. Again another task I never got around to doing.
The headlights were recently upgraded to modern clear glass items and are currently fitted with up-rated Halfords Extreme bulbs. It's amazing the difference they have made over the older style lamps normally fitted to this age of Defender.
Some other main points worth noting:
The small front spot lights in the picture are no longer fitted. They were hopeless so I got rid of them. The relays still exist in the engine bay so you could fit similar again easily.
The "Superwinch" that is currently fitted was very, very expensive, so will be removed before sale unless the full asking price is met.
To sum it all up, I've had a great time with "Vader", but a newer TD5 replacement means it has to go before I get to carry out a lot of my plans. I'll honestly be sad to see it go. Vader attracts so much attention - be it the evil black paint of the size of the thing. I regularly get stopped and asked about it in car parks and even washing it outside my house!
I have a feeling I'm really going to miss it even more when the snow returns this winter. Who ever buys this will find themselves very popular in a few months!
Looking for £3500 in current condition
I'm open to negotiations to leave the current brand new Cobra seats and BF Goodrich Mud tyres fitted to it (both fitted under a month ago) - pictures of those on request.
Located in Livingston - near Edinburgh
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