Chassis No. SALDV2281RA940213

The North American Specification, or NAS, Defender was dramatically modified for its intended market with improved safety, comfort, and even performance. Chief among its updates were an external safety cage by the professionals at Great Britain's Safety Devices, inward-facing jump seats with lap belts, and unique high-impact bumpers. While smooth and full of character, the 3.9-liter V8's mere 182-horsepower rating had to contend with a nearly 4,000-pound curb weight. To say that acceleration in a stock Defender 90 NAS is leisurely is an understatement.

Now that the earliest examples of the NAS Defender are more than three decades old, subtle cosmetic updates and power upgrades like those performed by Function Drives Form to the Coniston Green example offered here enhance this solid overall design and make it more livable in day-to-day use. Behind its refinished body, which retains its Safety Devices roll cage, this Defender 90 packs some serious punch. In place of the original V8 lies a far more robust, electronically controlled General Motors LS V8 paired with a Jeep AX15 five-speed manual transmission. Inside, the seats have been reupholstered in Cuoio Connolly leather, while factory air conditioning remains in place. A Dakota Digital gauge cluster replaces the original analog instruments.

The 16-inch Wolf wheels, painted tan to match the soft top, wear Michelin Defender rubber and work with TracTive suspension controlled via a dash display to improve ride quality. A bespoke stainless exhaust provides satisfying V8 engine notes. The D90 retains its NAS-specific lighting as well as its rear-mounted badge, identifying it as number 912. The tan fabric top stands in marked contrast to the original black unit, and it is well-matched with the Cuoio leather seats inside—yet another way this Defender 90 blends history with modernity.

The NAS Defender 90 has long “ticked all the boxes” for American off-road enthusiasts interested in rarity and rugged charm. Thanks to the upgrades performed by Function Drives Form, this Coniston Green over Cuoio example now represents an exciting opportunity to enjoy the NAS Defender experience with modern performance.