The Stage 1 V8 developed into the first 90 and 110 model range which then became the Defender. LUD 723W was originally delivered to a buyer in the UK via a main dealer in Oxfordshire in June 1980 and is first road registered in January 1981.  This is recorded in the Heritage Certificate that accompanies the vehicle. Prior to being acquired by the present owner in 2014 it had been dry stored in a private collection for over 20 years. It is therefore almost certain that the recorded mileage of 32,000 miles is accurate being the active rural use of the vehicle over its first 15 years. 

Since 2014 it has had a complete renovation by professional Land Rover experts included a new galvanised and waxoyled chassis and is now in near perfect condition in every way. It currently is in storage in the collection of the owner in Kent and can be viewed by appointment. It is of course eligible for export to the USA.          

This vehicle was introduced by Land Rover in 1979 originally for export only and continued for the UK and export market for 2 more years and eventually stopped production in 1983. The development of the vehicle was funded by the UK government with huge sums of money to produce an important vehicle suitable for the export market and to support Land Rover against competition in foreign sales. For the first time it featured permanent 4 wheel drive and a host of modern and advanced features as well as an enormously strong and powerful new engine to the Land Rover Range.  To accommodate the new engine the front of the car was restyled with a unique flat front grille and front wings. It was well received and sales were good although production number were quite small making this historically significant vehicle very rare and hard to find compared to the large numbers usually associated with Land Rover Series models.