Land Rover Defender 110 5-dr SW, LHD, 300Tdi

TELOS

Roaming the Pacific Coast
1985 Land Rover 110, 5-door LHD SW, 300Tdi, R380 manual 5-speed gearbox
75,000 miles // $56K negotiable

I bought this vehicle in early 2016 and spent the better part of a year having it rebuilt. I would drive this anywhere in a heartbeat and absolutely trust the vehicle.

FEATURES / IMPROVEMENTS:
300Tdi with R380 gearbox, only 75,000 miles -- incredibly strong and runs GREAT!
Factory LHD (no conversions)
Refurbished interior: recovered headliner, trim, seats, and rear floor
BFG KO2 tires (235/85R16) with warranty installed at 70,556 miles

Extensive engine refurbishment in 2016:
  • Machined head
  • Head gasket
  • Valve stems, caps, and seals
  • Machined new threads for manifold
  • New manifold gasket
  • New serpentine belt
  • New hoses as needed
  • Re-cored radiator
  • New spill return fuel lines
  • New clutch
  • New glow plugs

Recently changed all fluids and filters this fall:
  • Differentials
  • Transfer case
  • Transmission
  • Gearbox
  • Swivel ball grease
  • Air filter
  • Fuel filter
  • Timing belt (done in 2016 at 67,020 miles)

A very long list of new parts and improvements including:
  • NTO Puma front doors
  • New stainless steel door hinges
  • New carpeting throughout
  • 80mm sound insulation install throughout -- MUCH quieter than before!!
  • New headlight switch assembly (inside the steering column)
  • New side mirrors
  • New badging and decals throughout
  • New paint
  • New safari/rear door card
  • New rear tire carrier
  • New mud flaps, wingtop protection plates, vents, and wheel arches
  • New front bumper
  • New grille, light surrounds, and trim
  • New center cubby box
  • New Boss radio
  • New LED lights all around
  • New LED headlights -- SUPER bright and crisp
  • Includes roof rack


The price: $56K negotiable

Additional photos in this Google Photos album:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/DIq9OWBtqT5cVIUE2
IMG_0643.jpg
 
Last edited:

TELOS

Roaming the Pacific Coast
Hmm I wonder if this is CA legal, I'd guess not...

Being older than 25 years, I think it is smog exempt but I don't know what that does for registration. I have it registered in Colorado and didn't have any issues in that state.
 

VinceAtReal4x4's

WInch and 4x4 rescue specialist
No, technically this can't be done in Ca. although sometimes people find a lucky way in but at any time you can get your registration rejected. 1979 and older diesels are the only grey market 4x4's you can actually get registered in Ca. but even then you have a decent chance of running into issues with the DMV wanting bull***t CARB compliance. The Ca. DMV has actually taken some of their own rules concerning this off the web, like some corrupted third-world country would do... believe it or not. Check the Gwagen forums for more on that.
 

TELOS

Roaming the Pacific Coast
No, technically this can't be done in Ca. although sometimes people find a lucky way in but at any time you can get your registration rejected. 1979 and older diesels are the only grey market 4x4's you can actually get registered in Ca. but even then you have a decent chance of running into issues with the DMV wanting bull***t CARB compliance. The Ca. DMV has actually taken some of their own rules concerning this off the web, like some corrupted third-world country would do... believe it or not. Check the Gwagen forums for more on that.
Thank you for the clarification! I wish I could have shed more light on CA registration, but all I have experience with is Colorado with this vehicle. Quick and painless in Colorado. What a shame about California. This vehicle is a lot of fun going to the beach and driving around town.
 

VinceAtReal4x4's

WInch and 4x4 rescue specialist
Information about "Certifying" a grey market truck in Ca. is mostly made of rumors by those who don't know the reality of it. You can't just get anything certified. Technically this could never be certified for Ca. or if someone somehow convinced someone to do so, would be way more than $9K. The engine isn't a native US motor, much less was it ever built to Ca. specs. That pretty much makes it impossible by their rules. There's always some ridiculous exception or questionable example someone will offer as an argument to this, but if you go by that kind of thing, good luck in life.

1979, yes, 1980+, 99.99% no way. (and we are talking diesel here, petrol is another set of rules)
 

Beater_Bimmer

Adventurer
Not exactly true. You can get a quote from a place like G & K Auto that will get you a CARB sticker and is a certified modifier. Sadly, it will cost you 8-12 weeks. But let's keep this guys thread on track. Just let it be known this should be sold to someone outside of CA.
 

TELOS

Roaming the Pacific Coast
Cyber Monday bump!! The Land Rover is currently in Los Angeles and I'll have it here for the next 4 weeks before driving it back to Colorado around Christmas.
 

VinceAtReal4x4's

WInch and 4x4 rescue specialist
Show me one truly legal diesel built that late in Ca. with an engine that is 100% illegal according to the state laws no matter what you do to it.

If you are rich enough, anything is possible I guess and I realize that some of the people on this forum are just that, but even then it's an extreme gamble, "certified" or not.

Of course someone will tell you they can do it, but try it first then report.
 

DiscoDavis

Explorer
Show me one truly legal diesel built that late in Ca. with an engine that is 100% illegal according to the state laws no matter what you do to it.

You have a partially correct understanding of CA regs. Short answer is there are rules for compliant vehicles (made for sale in CA) and rules for non compliant vehicles. The whole 1975/1997 gas/diesel smog cutoffs apply to compliant vehicles, and non compliant vehicles are subject to different rules. Not sure where you are getting your 1979/1980 numbers...

The only state law that brings an issue with imported vehicles is CARB, otherwise the state has comparable import regulations and steps for cars one might bring in. The bottom line is a non compliant vehicle cannot be registered with whatever engine unless that motor/vehicle is modified to be compliant. As it stands only one lab in the state does this, and it does cost between $7,500-15,000. At the end of it the vehicle will have a CARB sticker and is now completely compliant and can be registered in the state. The year cutoffs for smog now apply to this vehicle, so a pre 1975 gasoline car is smog exempt, and a pre 1997 diesel car is also exempt.

There are several legally registered examples of CARB stickered cars done this way. These are truly 100% legal California compliant.

Regarding this car for sale above specifically, it is not CA legal unless it has previously gotten (or a buyer wants to do this) a CARB sticker produced for it.
 

DiscoDavis

Explorer
Information about "Certifying" a grey market truck in Ca. is mostly made of rumors by those who don't know the reality of it. You can't just get anything certified. Technically this could never be certified for Ca. or if someone somehow convinced someone to do so, would be way more than $9K. The engine isn't a native US motor, much less was it ever built to Ca. specs. That pretty much makes it impossible by their rules. There's always some ridiculous exception or questionable example someone will offer as an argument to this, but if you go by that kind of thing, good luck in life.

1979, yes, 1980+, 99.99% no way. (and we are talking diesel here, petrol is another set of rules)

See my explanation above. You yourself are spreading misinformation. Federal rules on DOT compliance list +25 years as exempt, EPA compliance is +21 years, and California has no cutoff and it must be made CARB compliant. Motors are not built to "CA spec", they are generally fitted with emissions controls on existing plants they know can be made to fit within CARB emissions rules. The state does not really care about the type of car, type of fuel, where the motor is made, or anything else. They care about the California compliant sticker fitted to it.

Technically yes this car above can be certified for California, at cost.
 

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