Land Rover 90 Station Wagon Diesel Turbo

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Although recognised as one of Britain’s greatest success stories, Land Rover had managed to erode its position of almost total market domination in the 1950s to a world market share that didn't even approach double figures thirty years later.

The reluctance to develop the original design and serious quality control issues in the early 1980s allowed the Japanese manufacturers, most notably Toyota, to take control of the African, Australasian and Asian off-road markets.

Land Rover's fight-back came with the launch of the Defender 90 and 110 models, which used chassis and four-wheel drive technology from the all-conquering Range Rover. Still immediately recognisable as a Land Rover, they had new interiors, better engines and most importantly coil springs.

The range of engines initially continued pretty much unchanged, a light pressure turbocharger eventually making its way on to the 2.5-litre long-stoke version of the 1950s-derived diesel engine. Boosting power by 13% and torque by a very welcome 31%, they allowed the Defender to come of age.

Still available with a huge range of body options, one of the more popular home-market choices was the handy short-wheelbase Station Wagon, which was easy to drive, had plenty of seats and could still legally tow a Rice horse box with two full-size Hunters inside.

The owner of this 1986 seven seat model ticked most of the option boxes, including cloth brown upholstery, a tow bar with twin electrics, side steps all round and Rostyle wheels. It was taken off the road in 2000, spending the next seven years in hibernation, a file of service bills confirming that a new cambelt was fitted at 45,000 miles and a new clutch 2,000 miles later.

Recently recommissioned for the road, the total accumulated mileage on this lovely, original example has risen to just 62,000 miles from new. Sitting on a new set of Avon Ranger tyres, it is MOTd until June 2016 and ready for work or play.