1997 Land Rover NAS Defender 90 4.0V8 Badge # 017

Vehicle Specifications

Up for adoption is a very rare and collectable 1997 Land Rover Defender 90 Japanese NAS (North American Specification) with 4.0V8 engine, badge # 017, original factory Coniston Green paint, automatic transmission, clean and well-preserved interior with power windows option and AC system. As a result, its a very solid, all original and unmolested truck with 95K miles (152K Km) from new and no oil leaks! Everything works as it should, drives amazingly – like a tank! Very well kept and cared for truck, always garage kept!

One owner from new, first 10 years of its life this NAS Defender 90 spent in Dubai, then the owner (an attorney) moved back to Ontario Canada in early 2007 and mainly used it for family weekend trips. The truck was never really used as a daily driver, almost never driven in winter seasons nor was it used as an off-road vehicle (though we did take it out for 2 light off-road trips here in Dallas area of Texas). It’s a perfect truck in as is condition and priced to sell quick! No accidents!

Mechanically the truck is in very good condition, everything works as it should, no lights displayed on the instrument cluster and transmission shifts smoothly. Frame and bulkhead are all solid and clean without any patches. Footwells, floors and doors are in good shape with very minor surface rust in some areas (normal Defender issues for the age). Original Coniston Green paint is in good condition and still shines.

Our recommendation for this Defender

As a Defender restoration shop, we would recommend several ideas and areas that we think may need restoration, updating and/or upgrading, and for a small additional investment – you can own this truck in as new condition, if not better! Call or email us if you’d like to discuss it further.

As you may be aware, NAS Defender 90 models sold in the U.S. market only in 1994, 1995 and 1997 years. All 1994 and 1995 NAS Defender 90 had 3.9L V8 paired with a 5-speed manual transmission. Only 1997 model year had 4.0L V8 paired with an automatic transmission and it was the last year of Defender 90 in the U.S. This is the main reason why 1997 NAS Defender 90 models are the most valuable to collectors and Defender enthusiasts. This is your chance to own a collectable J-NAS Defender 90, which is same specification vehicle as the U.S. market NAS, for less!

About the Japanese Specification NAS Defender 90s:

The Japanese Specification 1997 NAS Defender 90s look nearly identical to the American NAS Defender 90. They are almost the same with some minor differences. They have the same 4.0 EFI V8 and are all automatics. Most have power windows where the American NAS version did not have this option, and a few other minor differences.

This is how you tell a Japanese NAS D90 Wagon from its American NAS counterpart:

The Japanese NAS 90s came with power windows option.

The Japanese NAS 90s came with Kilometer speedos, were the American NAS version has a MPH speedo.

Along with the VIN tag behind the windscreen as found on the American NAS, the Japanese NAS has a second VIN tag on the brake pedal box, just like a Euro Defender.

The front marker and parking lights are slightly different. The top parking lamp is clear instead of amber color, and the side marker is a European style turn signal repeater and is set further back than the larger American NAS side marker lamp.

The interior trim is a grey vinyl, but it is a different pattern than the American NAS Defender 90 Wagon.

Regulations

According to DOT and EPA regulations it is 100% legal to import these 1997 Japanese NAS Defender 90s through a Registered Importer, as long as the VIN on the vehicle fall in the ones allowed by the DOT. The reason for this is that the Japanese NAS 90 was built identical in specifications to the American NAS 90 and the Catalyst plaque (see below images) specifies “This vehicle conforms to U.S. EPA and State of California Regulations applicable to 1997 model year”.