Few off-road brands conjure as many images of confidently traversing inhospitable, rugged, steep and boggy environments as Land Rover. Fewer still are the marques that have received a Royal Warrant from an English monarch. The first Land Rover was launched in 1948 and has been a favored brand of the Royal Family, farmers, tradesmen and militaries the world over ever since.

Wolf and Mare is proud to represent this 1998 Land Rover Defender 90 Wolf 300TDi Ceremonial, an original ex-military example of the legendary Defender 90. The car was recently purchased from Nene Overland in the UK and imported by the owner, who has obtained a clean Virginia title in his name. 

The Land Rover Defender was originally introduced as the Land Rover One Ten in 1984, joined shortly after by the Ninety. The wheelbase (in inches) for each vehicle determined its moniker, and after 1990 the vehicle became known as “Defender” followed by the wheelbase in numerals. 

While the Defender is an evolution of the earlier Land Rover, many improvements over the series Land Rovers and its overall capabilities led to its tremendous reputation and popularity. In fact the model saved the brand in the 1980s and the model would go on to be produced for over 30 years.

Land Rover Defenders have been used by many of the world’s military forces, with the British Army’s use dating back to the 1950s. In the early 1990s, the Land Rover Wolf program was commissioned to replace aging 110s and 90s that were reaching the end of their service lives. 

This evolution of the previous platform had to survive rigorous testing by the British Ministry of Defence (MoD). Called the “Defender XD” by Land Rover to denote “extra duty”, The Wolf was extensively uprated to increase load capacity and durability for modern military use. Both 90 and 110 inch wheelbase variants were built and could be ordered with a hard top or soft top. 

This 1998 Defender 90 Wolf has the special distinction of having been recommissioned in 2016 for use in the Queen of England’s 90th birthday celebrations. Additionally, a short-wheelbase Defender Wolf like the car on offer is a more difficult vehicle to find than the long-wheelbase 110 Wolf, which the military procured in greater numbers. Given its home use, the car is right-hand drive.

Originally finished in NATO Green, this Land Rover Defender Wolf still wears the glossy Bronze Green finish it received during its refurbishment for The Queen’s birthday. As a military vehicle, it was fitted with the MoD-preferred 2.5 Liter 300TDi engine mated to a R380 5-speed gearbox. The 300TDi was easier to maintain in the field over the more powerful but complicated Td5. Apparently Land Rover couldn’t guarantee the Td5 would survive the electromagnetic pulse from a nuclear detonation, a desirable trait in worst-case scenarios.

This Wolf’s engine was replaced during refurbishment, as you certainly wouldn’t want your ceremonial Land Rover breaking down in the middle of a procession. Turn the key, wait for the glow light to extinguish, and this Wolf’s engine fires up without hesitation.

The exterior of this Land Rover Wolf shows well given it was recommissioned over 8 years ago and has made a journey across the pond to the USA. Some paint chips are visible in various areas around the body, with some light rust stains in hinge areas. The body of the Land Rover Defender Wolf is aluminum, so one needn’t worry about rot on those components. Door bottoms and floor pans appear to be very solid.

Exterior features added for ceremonial duty include a new PVC soft top with modern T yore Velcro/zip fasteners, new bonnet fittings, bumper and pin, tailgate with spare wheel carrier and rear step.

All Land Rover Defender Wolfs have 24 volt electrical systems and to ensure this Wolf was tip-top for parade duty, it was fitted with new headlamps and guards, side and tail lamps and a new alternator. Rear fog lights improve visibility in hazy conditions. Want to travel discreetly in a train of fellow Wolf Defenders? Activate the military-specific convoy lighting mode from the lighting panel.

The chassis is a well-known corrosion point on vintage Land Rovers, but this car was treated to wax injection of the chassis and bulkhead, plus Waxoyl underseal on all underbody components as part of the military’s REMUS upgrade program. 

Moving to the interior, the REMUS program also added a Front Rollover Protection System and Wright off-road front and rear acoustic matting. The cabin of the ceremonial Wolf is said to be quieter and more refined than the pure military versions. 

Interior features include lockable sliding passenger and driver’s side windows, ashtray, lighting controls, sun visors, map light and fire extinguisher. Behind the right-hand drive wheel, the gauge cluster includes a kph speedometer, fuel and engine temperature indicators, and warning lights. Flanking the gauge pod are the heating and ventilation controls. This Defender does not have air conditioning, but cowl vents provide supplemental airflow at speed.

The gray cloth seats were refurbished in 2016, and are in overall good condition with a very small poke on the passenger seat. Some interior finishes and surfaces exhibit paint chipping and moderate wear.

The soft top can be rolled up or completely removed for open-air driving. A spacious rear cargo area features jerry can mounts and interior-facing rear seats that can be flipped up to further increase cargo capacity. Of note are the REMUS installed rear seatbelts, a nice safety feature for passengers.

All Land Rover Defender 90 Wolf vehicles utilized a coil spring suspension uprated for military use, plus significantly reinforced axles as the standard units couldn’t survive military testing. New suspension rubbers and shocks were installed during refurbishment in 2016. 

Power steering makes direction changes easy and the car features the Defender’s typical 3+ turns lock to lock. A steering guard is a Wolf-specific feature added for protection in rough terrain. 

All four corners utilize disc brakes and this Wolf received new pads and discs during recommissioning for ceremonial duty. A new prop shaft was fitted, plus the vehicle’s axles were overhauled.

Overall the car drives, shifts, and stops very well thanks to its refurbishment and subsequent dry storage.

The military spec Heavy Duty steel wheels are fitted with Michelin 4X4 Off Road XZL tires in size 7.50 R16C. In case of puncture, the Land Rover Defender Wolf had provisions for mounting a spare wheel on the bonnet or via side mount on the driver’s side. This Wolf comes with a matching spare wheel and tire mounted on the swing gate.

A clean Virginia title was obtained after importation and transportation to Virginia. Additional records include correspondence documenting the vehicle’s military in-service date and known history.

Finally, the full Ministry of Defence history has been obtained via the Freedom of Information Act in the UK and confirms this Defender 90 Wolf as a genuine ceremonial vehicle. The vehicle history also includes its complete repair and maintenance record from new.

A lifting jack, its associated tools and a repair manual are also included.

An eye-catching and conversation-starting example of an iconic vehicle, this 1998 Land Rover Defender 90 Wolf represents a rare opportunity to acquire a solid and original example of Land Rover and British military history in the United States. Its robust mil-spec upgrades have made it a turnkey trail conqueror for the enthusiastic off-roader. Or, captivate the gathered crowd at Cars and Coffee with stories of its use as a ceremonial vehicle for the Queen’s 90th birthday and specialized armed forces features.

While it’s capable of being air-dropped—which would make for an impressive entrance to your favorite car event—we recommend cruising in, preferably loaded up with friends and family.

If you’re interested in acquiring this special vehicle, please contact us.