Estimated Price: £25,000 - £30,000
Developed for the British military, the Defender Wolf was a considerably more specialised proposition than the civilian Defender on which it was based. Known officially as the Land Rover XD, for Extra Duty, the Wolf was engineered specifically for military use and equipped accordingly. This particular example is an XD 90 FFR 24-volt Wolf and, despite its dramatic transformation, remains mechanically standard. Importantly, much of its military character has also been retained, including the original Wolf roll-cage and an impressive collection of MOD equipment.
The transformation of this extraordinary Wolf was undertaken over a period of two and a half years by our vendor, a JLR engineer, with the entire process extensively documented. Purchased as an ex-MOD Wolf from auction on 27/01/2020 it was stripped back to a rolling chassis before the painstaking rebuild commenced. The concept was to combine the purposeful nature and fascinating detail of the military Wolf with the open-air appeal of a NAS-style Defender 90, finished with a distinctly contemporary twist. The vehicles first MOT following the transformation was on 10/08/2022 at 156,307km.
The resulting Porsche Miami Blue colour scheme is spectacular, contrasting with the black military hardware and highly polished stainless fixings. More than 200 components were subsequently refitted, whilst replacement wings and bonnet required the original military mounting positions to be carefully transferred. Its imposing stance comes courtesy of 20 x 9-inch Mondial-inspired alloy wheels with 275/55 R20 BFGoodrich All-Terrain tyres. Look more closely and some of the best details are considerably subtler. The bespoke swing-away spare wheel carrier is fitted with a high-level brake light which incorporates a lamp from an early Freelander and the WOLF-branded tie-down arrangement is another particularly neat detail amongst numerous carefully considered touches throughout the vehicle.
Inside, Corbeau low-base wing-back seats have been retrimmed in tan leather and Alcantara, complemented by a matching trimmed dashboard and Alcantara-rimmed Momo steering wheel. The deliberately minimalist approach ensures that much of the Wolf's military equipment remains part of the experience rather than being hidden away. The map light, warning-light covers, gun rack, side air intakes, tool-kit brackets, aerial mounts and convoy light remain, whilst even the military convoy marking on the rear axle survives.
The powertrain is standard Defender Wolf with a stamp on the engine confirming it had a rebuild (by the MOD) on 31/10/2017, presumably being fitted some time later, and our vendor believes that it has probably covered around 15,000 miles since.
The quality and individuality of the completed project attracted the attention of Land Rover Monthly, which featured the Wolf extensively in 2023, whilst the build itself is supported by comprehensive photographic documentation covering its transformation over a number of years.
Having invested so much time and energy in creating it, our vendor now finds himself increasingly reluctant to use the finished vehicle for fear of marking or damaging it and would much rather see it pass to its next custodian to actually be enjoyed. The vehicle-specific registration number, P9 OXD, is included in the sale. Sensibly guided at £25,000–£30,000, this is a remarkable and highly individual interpretation of the Defender Wolf, its military origins still evident everywhere you look, even if its chances of returning to active duty now appear decidedly remote.
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