1998 Land Rover Defender 110

Engine - 2.5L TDI Diesel
Transmission -  5 Speed Manual
Suspension - Stock
Tyres - Maxxis MT753
Equipped For - Touring

I've always had a thing for vehicles that are more than just transport. I nearly ended up with a Mitsubishi Delica — thank God I didn’t. My first was a Defender 110 TDI, which I regret selling for peanuts in 2014.

So in 2020, I went to look at another Defender (I was driving a Toyota at the time). Now, Defenders aren’t just cars; they’re experiences. The clutch demands your leg, not your foot; the gears have a mind of their own, and the journey is everything. The moment I stepped in, the familiar smell of gear oil hit me — it was like coming home. I bought the Defender and sold the Toyota.

But this one’s been a rollercoaster. It’s on its third engine, with the previous ones falling victim to overheating (luckily, only one happened under my watch). It turns out that the radiator was responsible for all of them. Frustrating? Sure. But that’s the Defender life —it’s not just a car; it’s a character.

That being said I was determined to never go through it again, so I built my own engine monitoring system, software and hardware, that I can check via my phone. No need for those ugly aftermarket gauges, even though they’re useful; they just mess with the car’s look. I prefer to keep things as close to stock as possible.

Granted, we did chop the roof off and fit a camper, which isn’t exactly stock, but you get the idea. I also integrated AI into the system so we can "talk" to the car, ask how it's feeling, and so on. I asked what it wanted to be called, and it replied “Roofie,” thanks to the rooftop conversion. But I think we’ll just stick with "Defender" for now.

Next, we outfitted the interior of our old Land Rover for full-time touring. Nothing was standard — corners were off, measurements varied, and unique solutions were a must. We tackled it like a puzzle, building everything around the fridge. If it wasn’t complicated enough, we added a motorbike. Don’t quote me, but we might just be the first 4WD in Australia with a swing-away motorbike hitch. Despite the challenges, I’m thrilled with how everything turned out.

Looking ahead, I know Land Rover reliability will likely dictate what’s next. For now, I’m just stoked that it’s running smoothly and everything is working. Let’s see where the road takes us from here!

Words & Photos by Luke & Ella