1990 Land Rover 110 3.5 V8 Ex-MOD
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Price - £14,995
Year - 1990
Mileage - 169,310km / 105,204 miles
Colour: NATO Green with canvas roof
MOT - 27th July 2027
Few vehicles are as closely associated with the British Armed Forces as the Land Rover. For decades, the Series models and subsequent 90 and 110 provided dependable transport for military personnel and equipment, serving in an extraordinary variety of roles around the world.
Introduced in 1983, the coil-sprung Land Rover 110 represented a considerable step forward from its leaf-sprung predecessors, offering improved ride comfort, greater load-carrying capability and enhanced road manners while retaining the rugged simplicity that had made the marque so successful.
Supercar Group is delighted to offer this particularly interesting 1990 Land Rover 110, fitted with the desirable 3.5-litre Rover V8 petrol engine and accompanied by an unusually comprehensive record of its military service.
Finished in traditional NATO Green with a canvas hood, this example combines genuine MOD provenance with substantial recent expenditure, including a replacement chassis, extensive recommissioning and a complete repaint.
It also benefits from a conversion to automatic transmission, while the removed manual gearbox is included with the vehicle.
With its military registration 12-KJ-22 still recorded on the original identification plaque, this Land Rover offers far more than the appearance of an ex-military vehicle: it has a documented history spanning a decade of service with the British Armed Forces.
A Decade of MOD Service
The Land Rover was officially registered and entered MOD service on 23 January 1990. Its specification is correctly recorded as a 110 V8 petrol RHD, Medium general Service Soft Top, and given ERM 12-KJ-22. It was allocated to JSCS Ashchurch, the Joint Supply Chain Services facility responsible for receiving new military Land Rovers, fitting the required military equipment and allocating them to operational units.
On 21 May 1990, it was issued to 61 Field Support Squadron, part of the Royal Engineers. Although the MOD does not release specific operational records for individual vehicles, typical duties for a Land Rover of this type would have included transporting engineering personnel, towing compressors and generators, moving equipment and general logistical support.
On 29 March 1993, it was transferred to 36 Engineer Regiment, another Royal Engineers unit. Land Rover 110s within engineer regiments were commonly used for troop transport, site reconnaissance, engineering support and towing plant trailers. This period is particularly interesting given the activities of British Army engineering units during the early 1990s, including duties associated with Germany and deployments to the Balkans. Of particular note was 36 Engineer Regiment deploying on Operation Grapple 4 in Bosnia in 1994.
While there is no surviving documentation to confirm that this particular vehicle deployed overseas, its unit history certainly leaves open that possibility.
On 25 September 1998, the Land Rover moved to 39 Signal Regiment (V). The “V” denotes Volunteer/Reserve service, and this is where the vehicle's specification becomes particularly intriguing. Signal units typically used vehicles for communications support, transporting radio equipment and personnel, and towing generator trailers. This is significant when considered alongside the vehicle's unusual electrical specification.
Finally, on 20 August 1999, it was transferred to the Theatre Fleet Support Unit (UK). TFSU units were responsible for managing vehicle pools and preparing vehicles for reassignment or disposal. The Land Rover subsequently left military service and was sold through British Car Auctions on 4 October 2000, entering civilian ownership after approximately a decade in MOD service.
The Desirable 3.5-Litre Rover V8
One of this Land Rover's most attractive features is its original 3.5-litre V8 petrol specification.
While many military Land Rovers of this period employed four-cylinder diesel engines, the V8-powered examples offered additional power, smoother operation and the unmistakable character of Rover's aluminium V8.
The vehicle also retains some interesting military electrical features, including a 24-volt connection and associated wiring beneath the passenger seat, together with a substantial battery compartment capable of accommodating two batteries.
These details suggest provision for specialist communications equipment and are consistent with aspects of an FFR (Fitted For Radio) installation.
Its subsequent service with 39 Signal Regiment makes this particularly interesting, although the surviving records do not conclusively establish whether it was ever equipped with a complete FFR system.
These details, combined with the V8 engine and documented Signals service, contribute to the vehicle's distinctive specification and military character.
VIN Decoded
The VIN also supports the vehicle's specification:
- SALL — Manufacturer: Land Rover
- D — Defender/90/110 model line
- H — 110-inch wheelbase
- A — Utility/soft-top/basic military body specification
- V — 3.5-litre V8 petrol engine
- 7 — VIN check digit
- F — 1989 VIN year code
- A — Solihull assembly
- 415680 — Sequential production number
Military Land Rovers can have VIN year information that does not correspond directly with the date they entered MOD service, as Land Rover reused earlier VIN structures for military contracts. The documented MOD history confirms this vehicle's entry into service in January 1990.
Replacement Chassis and Recent Recommissioning
Perhaps the most significant recent work is the installation of a replacement chassis.
Chassis corrosion is one of the principal concerns when purchasing an older Land Rover, and replacing the chassis represents a substantial undertaking in both labour and parts.
The work is complemented by an extensive programme of recommissioning and cosmetic refurbishment, including:
- Installation of a replacement chassis
- Complete exterior repaint in period-style NATO Green
- Repainting of the interior surfaces
- Thorough cleaning of the canvas hood
- Additional mechanical, electrical and cosmetic attention
- A fresh MOT, valid until 27 July 2027
The intention has been to retain the Land Rover's original military character rather than transform it into a modernised or highly modified vehicle.
Military features remain, including the distinctive central lighting controls, NATO-style rear towing arrangement, original-style bumpers and other military fittings.
Automatic Transmission
The Land Rover has been converted from its original manual configuration to an automatic gearbox.
This provides a relaxed driving experience, particularly suited to the smooth, torquey nature of the Rover V8.
Importantly, the removed manual gearbox accompanies the vehicle, offering a future owner the opportunity to investigate a return to its original transmission arrangement should they prefer.
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