Ninety mystery

I have just read Greg King’s latest article on the history of Defender and have a few thoughts on the datelines quoted.

I have a 90 County Station Wagon with an NWK suffix which it seems Land Rover have used for press motors and it does not follow the dates and parts that the author lists.

My motor was registered on August 1, 1988, with an F plate but it has Defender on the bonnet, the roof has the outside bars but also has a factory sunroof fitted with the centre bar omitted, yet has the rear roof vents.

This does not fit with the story from Greg’s timeline and I wonder if it is because it may have been an early prototype.

Is it possible to find out about its provenance from someone?

Tony Sneesby

The Defender name and badge didn’t appear until autumn 1990, so the badge has definitely been retrofitted on your Ninety. However, your County could well be the ‘crossover’ spec that appeared during 1988. This had the later grey interior, decals and such like, but retained the earlier ribbed roof with a sunroof. Only a limited number of County models like this exist.

You are quite right, a number of Land Rover fleet and press vehicles of this period carry the NWK suffix.

As far as more information goes, the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust can supply a Heritage Certificate, with interesting build information included.

Also, the British Motor Museum at Gaydon has some fleet records for Land Rovers from this period. You can make an appointment in the reading rooms to view these records (once Covid restrictions lift). You might strike it lucky - Greg King.