1987 Land Rover Defender 2.5L Diesel · D372 LSE

The Land Rover Defender presents a clean roadworthiness status as of the most recent test on 7 November 2024, where it passed at 92,453 miles with no defects recorded. The maintenance trend is stable across the available history, with passes logged at the 2022, 2023, and 2024 tests and no advisories or mechanical faults raised by testers at any stage. A failed entry on 7 November 2024 at identical mileage shows no defects recorded, indicating an administrative or presentation issue at the test centre rather than a mechanical concern. The recorded mileage reflects extremely light use for a 39 year old vehicle. It rose from 91,918 miles at the 9 November 2022 test to 92,166 miles on 6 November 2023, then to 92,453 miles on 7 November 2024. That equates to roughly 237 miles per year, or about 2,371 miles annually across its life. The sparse record shows no rapid accumulation or neglected gaps, though only four tests span two years of a long service life, leaving earlier decades unverified by this data. A buyer should still inspect structural corrosion on chassis members and bulkhead, given the age and low mileage that suggests possible prolonged standing. The tester raised no suspension bushes, coil springs, brake discs, or exhaust emissions issues, but 1987 Defenders commonly suffer hidden rust and perished seals unseen in a clean MOT. Verify the 7 November 2024 failure was a clerical duplicate and confirm matching VIN and test certificates before purchase. Given the absent advisories, previous keepers appear to have maintained basic test compliance, yet the minimal annual coverage means in-person checks of drivetrain oil, brake calipers, and tyre sidewall cracking remain essential. Low mileage has not stressed consumables, but age-related degradation outpaces wear on this model.