Is it a real Defender?

berg450

Well-Known Member

Posts

665

Location

Hungary

• Feb 25, 2020

• #1

Hi all
So far I have owned 2 D2 Td5 (actually I have one) but do not know much about Defenders. I know that it was also produced in Spain (named Santana).
There is one for sale now in Hungary (from Spain), looks good and can be a nice old timer.
Is it a real Land Rover or only something similar which only looks like a Defender.
It has a 3.3 liter diesel engine, MY1982.

 

tottot

Well-Known Member

Posts

8,083

Location

west wales coast

• Feb 25, 2020

• #2

Early Santana's were very much a localy built rebadged Land-Rover series. Later Santana's were sort of in between the series and the Defender.
Defenders went coil spring where as the Santana remained on leaf [ I think they may have been parabolic ]
However the Santana built vehicles were first with a one piece windscreen and the flat front bodywork.
I think the engine is a 6 cylinder, something never fitted to a Defender.[ It was an extended version of Land Rover's 21/4 engine using many of the same parts ]
That is a very nice looking truck.

 

berg450

Well-Known Member

Posts

665

Location

Hungary

• Feb 26, 2020

• #3

I have made some searching on google and found that it is very much like a series 3 109...
Is it possible to buy parts for such car on places where normal LR parts are sold or only from Spain?

 

tottot

Well-Known Member

Posts

8,083

Location

west wales coast

• Feb 26, 2020

• #4

Many of the body parts are the same as series 3, the bonnet looks like 90/110 , series 3 109 V8 front grill. Head lamp panel and roof Santana. Axles look the same as land rover. Can not say about engine and box as do not know for sure what is fitted, pic ?

 

berg450

Well-Known Member

Posts

665

Location

Hungary

• Feb 27, 2020

• #5

Gearbox LT85, engine Cazorla 6 cyl 3.3 liter diesel.

 

tottot

Well-Known Member

Posts

8,083

Location

west wales coast

• Feb 27, 2020

• #6

Nice, this was Santana/Cazorla's development of Land Rovers Two and a quarter diesel and while crank, block, head and manifolds are 6cyl specific I believe the other internals like piston's, rod's, and valves were the same as Land Rovers 2 1/4.
The LT 85 [ Spanish box as it is known ] 5 speed is known to be a good strong box and was fitted in some Land Rovers [ V8's] in the 80's until the Rover group and Santana went their own way. In the UK reconditioned 85's are still available.