A few months ago, Matthew Sanda set out to build the perfect expedition vehicle to drive from Cape Town to Shanghai. The result is really quite exceptional, but Matt realized after the shakedown trip that a more compact vehicle would suit his needs better as he was only using about 25 percent of the useable space onboard the vehicle. This is certainly not a common problem. Matt decided to put Imi Ola (the Defender’s name) up for sale and build another expedition vehicle using either a Defender 110 or a 90’s G-wagon as a base.
Over the past three months, this camper and truck has been fully rebuilt. All mechanical parts have little over 1,000 miles, and the body of the Defender is pretty much the only original part of this vehicle.
Vehicle: 1999 Defender 130 HD TD5 with custom built Alu-Cab camper
This Land Rover has had an extensive amount of engine and transmission work done with a mapped ECU and upgraded transmission cooler. The entire cooling system has been replaced along with a 60-percent-larger aftermarket intercooler. An upgraded long Terra Firma expedition shocks and springs have been installed with a heavy-duty clutch and vented brakes. This Land Rover Defender is equipped with all the accessories and equipment for long-term overlanding and has been installed with the following notable accessories:
- Madman engine management system – old bar system with engine shut off delete
- National Luna dual-battery system with two new engine batteries
- 80L National Luna fridge
- New 200-watt mono solar panels and 2,000-watt inverter
The truck is also sold with a spares kit which includes pumps, hoses, tools, and extra hardware.
The vehicle is based in Cape Town, South Africa, and is listed for $70,000 USD. Matt will highly consider partially trading for a 1992-2003 Defender 110 300TDI, or “preferably” a 1990-1999 Mercedes 290GD or 300GD—but only if they are on the continent of Africa and situated in a country that allows foreigners to register/export the vehicle without needing a resident visa or extended visa.
Please contact Matt at Matthew@lucidless.com for more details. The vehicle will in a few years be eligible for legal permanent import to the United States.
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