Sold

1988
Land Rover
Defender 90 Fully Restored, Vintage HVAC

Mar 20, 2026 at 7:02 PM

Ended

Location

Ames, IA, USA

For $102,000

Sold

Matte black, 16 miles since build, and fully reimagined — this ‘Dark Knight’ Defender 90 is vintage Land Rover attitude with modern muscle. Absolute stealth mode.

More about Land Rover

Highlights

Full restoration by expert facility Monarch Defender
Vintage Air climate-control system
Custom bumpers and side steps
33-inch BFGoodrich tires with matching full-sized spare
Billet hardware and LED lighting throughout

Overview

SBX Cars is proud to offer for sale this custom 1988 Land Rover Defender 90 showing just 16 post-restoration miles on the odometer at the time of this cataloging. Finished in matte black over a black and white two-tone Nappa leather interior, this Defender restomod is now offered with a build sheet and a clear title.

The Defender 90 became legendary for its classic, ultra-rugged aesthetic. Its short-wheelbase design made it highly maneuverable on tight trails, and its high ground clearance gave it unmatched off-road prowess. On the inside, the Defender’s inboard-facing rear jump seats folded up to maximize cargo-carrying capacity.

Dubbed the “Dark Knight,” this stealthy Defender 90 was reimagined both inside and out by Monarch Defender. Based in Ames, Iowa, the company uses meticulous craftsmanship and personalized enhancements to bring together the analog look of a classic Land Rover with modern engineering, technology, and creature comforts.

Thoughtful details for this Defender include a Monarch grille, LED lighting, “Fire and Ice” side steps, a NAS-style tubular rear bumper, Vintage Air HVAC, and an Alpine audio system. It’s a safari-ready SUV built to the highest of standards by the best in the Land Rover specialty business.

Specifications & Options

Exterior

Matte black paint
- White accent striping
Frame-off restoration
- New body panels, hinges, glass, and seals
Halo headlights
Monarch front grille
KBX top and side intakes
LED marker lighting
Aluminum door handles
Billet aluminum door hinges
Dual color-keyed side mirrors
“Fire and Ice” side steps
“Alpine light” safari-style windows
Swing-away rear door
Polished single-exhaust outlet
NAS-style rear step bumper
Mud flaps
18-inch alloy wheels (set of five)
33-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 tires (set of five)

Interior

Black and white Nappa leather upholstery
- Front buckets
- Inboard-facing foldable rear bench seats
Dynamat sound-deadening insulation throughout
Leather-upholstered dashboard and door cards
Jeep-derived power steering system
Leather-wrapped steering wheel
Center console with dual cup holders
Tinted power windows
Power door locks
Vintage Air A/C and heating
- Dakota Digital control unit
Infotainment and audio system
- Alpine nine-inch touchscreen
- Apple CarPlay
- Back-up camera
- Hidden antenna
- USB-C power outlets
Ambient lighting
Carpeted and rubber floor mats
Classic Instruments gauges
- Bomber series
- 200-mph speedometer
- 10,000-rpm tachometer
- Fuel level
- Coolant temperature

Mechanical

3.5-liter Land Rover V8
R380 five-speed manual transmission
LT230 dual-range transfer case
New front and rear differential and axles
Newer fuel system
- Custom aluminum fuel tank
Newer wiring harness
Updated suspension
- Terra Firma two-inch shock absorbers
- Two-inch lifted springs
- Polyurethane bushings
- Rear anti-roll bars
Ventilated disc brakes
- Newer brake lines

Service History

Recent work has been done to the electrical system, fuel system, brakes, differential, and axles during the course of restoration.

Condition & Reports

The seller has provided a photo gallery.

This Defender 90 is said to be free of substantial imperfections.

Included in the Sale

Build sheet

Summary

Trail-tested gear on the outside, luxo-grade Nappa leather on the inside – this Defender 90 brings it all to the table. It’s the ultimate in custom creations from a coachbuilding company that lives and breathes Land Rovers.

As part of the consignment process, SBX Cars requests a range of information from the seller pertaining to the subject of their offering. The auction listing description therefore is, to the best of the seller's knowledge, accurate and not misleading. However, it is the responsibility of a potential buyer to satisfy themself as to the accuracy of the auction listing description. This includes conducting an in-person inspection, which may be arranged between the buyer and seller, as well as verifying the condition, authenticity, value, and title before committing to bid or buy. Please see our Terms of Service for full details.

1988 Land RoverDefender 90

Total bids:30

Ended:,

Watched by:38

Winning bid:$102,000

How bidding works?