1995 Land Rover Defender 90 NAS
By the mid-‘90s, the Land Rover Defender had already built its legend overseas, but for a brief five-year window, it was officially imported to the U.S. as the North American Specification (NAS) Defender.
Built specifically to comply with U.S. safety and emissions regulations, the NAS 90 retained the heart and soul of its British counterpart while gaining a 3.9L V8, air conditioning, and a full safari cage—a combination that made it instantly recognizable and one of the most collectible variants of the Defender today. Only 7,000 NAS Defenders made it stateside before the model was discontinued, and of those, just 1,036 were finished in AA Yellow between 1994 and 1997, making this one even more of a standout.
This 1995 NAS Defender 90, #2155, retains its original 3.9-liter V8, delivering 182 horsepower at 4,750 rpm and 232 lb-ft of torque at 3,100 rpm, paired with a five-speed manual transmission. The factory-installed cage provides both structural integrity and rollover protection while integrating seamlessly with the iconic NAS soft top design. With its permanent four-wheel-drive system, two-speed transfer case, and locking center differential, it keeps true to its roots as a no-nonsense off-road workhorse. Thanks to body-on-frame construction, solid axles, and coil-spring suspension, it still drives like a Defender should—unapologetic, mechanical, and built for the kind of roads that aren’t really roads at all. With 9 inches of ground clearance and a curb weight of around 3,560 pounds, it’s as ready to tackle rough terrain as it was when it left the factory.
This one keeps its originality where it matters while adding smart, well-integrated upgrades.
A Rovers North air conditioning system brings a rare level of comfort for the summer months, and a new Rovers North soft top and Surry top add versatility to match. Safari Guard accessories, an ARB front bumper, and a WARN VR8-S winch complete the package, making sure this Defender stays true to its roots—functional, ready, and never out of place on dirt.
Asking $78,000, This NAS 90 isn’t merely a museum piece, and it isn’t trying to be. It’s been built for use, not just display, and still turns heads in all the right ways. Whether it’s collecting dust from a desert adventure or just sitting in the driveway making everything around it look a lot cooler (or a lot less), it does what a Defender is supposed to do—stand out, go anywhere, and never go out of style.
