Is this a NAS?

[Defender50th]

Hi Guys,

Just wanted some opinions if this is a genuine NAS. If it is its a very early one, September 1993 registered by land rover and stayed over here in the UK.

Whats wrong and right with it?

Can someone tell me if thats a info plate in the drivers footwell by the cluth pedal, and what info would be on it?

Many thanks

James

[JimC]

Its got a lot of the features of a NAS, but a few oddities also. The white sticker is the standard placement for the required MVHSS (Motor Vehicle Highway Safety Standards?) US compliance sticker that has the VIN and other info on it.

The front bumper is newer with no 93/94-only bumper turn signals (and plus endcaps). I has a diesel fender. There is no NAS rear step bumper. It doesn't appear to have the number plaque on the back. I also don't know which color red that is.

If you can get the VIN you can compare it with the LR FAQ and try to find out more.

[grnrvrs]

If it is a 94 NAS 90, where are the bumper turn sigs?

oops...JimC beat me to it while I was typing.

[leastonce]

What is the VIN number?

[Defender50th]

Thanks for the info Jim :)
So its a sticker in the footwell. Anyone got a pic of one to see whats on it?

The vin is SALLDVAM8LA934460.

My guess is a possible front end accident so bumper and wing were replaced? I think it does not have a numbered plate as it my be a pre production one built by land rover for press and testing? It was made before september 93, when did the POE model arrive?


Many thanks

James

[GYM]

Defer to the experts, but at first glance I would bet no. What is the VIN #?

Edit, ah nevermind, someone beat me to it..

[minorthreat]

Didn't Mike from ECR post some pics of some NAS trucks in the safety devices factory that were there as prototypes for the NAS cage? It could be one of those. Also, wasn't there a run of NAS-like trucks sold in the UK that were kind of an ugly teal color that were produced in '92 or '93?

[Campbell]

Burn those mud flaps!!!

[bjf]

the teal ones are a special edition in the UK

[JohnsD90]

Didn't Mike from ECR post some pics of some NAS trucks in the safety devices factory that were there as prototypes for the NAS cage? It could be one of those. Also, wasn't there a run of NAS-like trucks sold in the UK that were kind of an ugly teal color that were produced in '92 or '93?
yes there was the 93 SV but that was RHD with SW doors, a full cage and TDI

[KKilo23]

My thoughts.....the owner built the 90 to look like a "NAS" truck. Look at the rear tailgate, a NAS 90 logo on the door to identify "Hey I have a NAS 90" like some fools put M badges on non M BMWs. Why anyone would want to do this is beyond me, but maybe b/c NAS trucks were not available over there it had a "cool" factor as do the RHD trucks here in the states.

IIRC, didn't LR install the rear badge at the PORT when the trucks arrived...since this one never came over it never got a badge....

[JohnsD90]

i see the number plate and it says in cheap lettering NAS 90.
I would have to believe its a NAS 90. the amount of money it would take to make that into NAS form would be more than the cost of an NAS truck. He had to do the V8, the cage, the NAS SPEC TUB, the other cage, the doors and door tops, the number plate. and many people replace their front bumper.

[Defender50th]

Also, wasn't there a run of NAS-like trucks sold in the UK that were kind of an ugly teal color that were produced in '92 or '93?

Yeah, a Defender 90SV. Made in 1993, only 90 made and over half exported to hotter climates as didnt sell well in the UK. Not the best colour but i do have one as its a rare beast :)

[JimC]

That's not a US-format VIN, check out this:

http://www.lrfaq.org/FAQ.3.Chassis_Numbers.html

Note that the US VIN's don't use the 5th digit the same way, and the SA/RA right before the serial number does not correspond to the UK chart. The serial number of 934460 seems to to fall before the earliest NAS of 935637.

A prototype seems like a likely explanation, and it makes complete sense that not all the special parts like the rear bumper would have been available when it was put together. The turn signals in the bumper are just standard US truck and trailer parts, and could have easily been a last-minute addition. The fender also just could have come from the production line. It would be interesting to see how the air filter is mounted to the bulkhead.

[Defender50th]

I would have to believe its a NAS 90. the amount of money it would take to make that into NAS form would be more than the cost of an NAS truck. He had to do the V8, the cage, the NAS SPEC TUB, the other cage, the doors and door tops, the number plate. and many people replace their front bumper.

Thats my thinking. Its even got a NAS chassis as UK spec would be fuel tank under seat.

I missed out on buy it and i think i should have jumped on it now!

I would love to know whats on the footwell sticker, as it might be the info that was needed to verify it with land rover.

[JimC]

I'm sticking with the prototype guess. The serial number and build date makes the theory seem very plausible. But, like everything else, its had 15-plus years for someone to mess with it, adulterate it, and otherwise screw it up.

Don't feel too bad about missing it - the rear cage would have been expensive!

[Defender50th]

Thanks Jim.
Yeah the guy who had is was not a proper enthusiast, hense all the crap on it!

[GYM]

... it had a "cool" factor as do the RHD trucks here in the states...RHD is cool?
Have never given it much thought, but I assumed most ROW truck owners with RHD here simply tolerated it, and, if given the chance would prefer to switch to LHD.

[KKilo23]

RHD is cool?
Have never given it much thought, but I assumed most ROW truck owners with RHD here simply tolerated it, and, if given the chance would prefer to switch to LHD.
haha I guess... probably should of said something like the cool factor of having a 300 tdi.... :cool:

[grnrvrs]

GYM, Some may just tolerate RHD, but I Prefer it...something about it that just fits the truck.

RHD is cool?
Have never given it much thought, but I assumed most ROW truck owners with RHD here simply tolerated it, and, if given the chance would prefer to switch to LHD.

[rover26c]

It does not appear to be NAS truck. VIN is not showing in any of the reports.

[Hans]

Wasn't there some company in the UK doing "NAS Style" conversions on UK trucks? That could be what's up in this case.

Oh, and as a side note, I keep seeing the acronym ROW all over the place. What does it stand for?

-Hans

[JimC]

ROW - Rest Of World

Technically refers to trucks intended for sale outside of EU and US markets. Presumably, one basic specification meets the requirements for many countries that don't have the same level of safety and emissions standards.

[dave_lucas]

It has a bulkhead
The b pillar does not seem to have the rubber coating on it like the NAS trucks

Kind of a strange truck, I have only seen the footwell stickers on NAS trucks. Did other markets have the footwell stickers? I would vote NAS knock off but the sticker has me thinking a prototype :confused

[JimC]

The cage looks normal and correct, but I find the velour seats to be, well, shitty.

[newfD90]

GYM, Some may just tolerate RHD, but I Prefer it...something about it that just fits the truck.

x2. Especially with the dog in the other seat.

[Defender50th]

Wasn't there some company in the UK doing "NAS Style" conversions on UK trucks? That could be what's up in this case.
-Hans

Yeah frog island will build you one, but they are no where near a NAS, everything is wrong, just looks a bit like one.

Follow-up Post:



Kind of a strange truck, I have only seen the footwell stickers on NAS trucks. Did other markets have the footwell stickers? I would vote NAS knock off but the sticker has me thinking a prototype :confused

Hey Dave,

Yep, the footwell sticker was only on NAS trucks. Is it on the drivers side on a 1994??? Still looking for a pic of one to se whats on it :)

James

Follow-up Post:

Just solved one problem about the hood and cage with some info passed on thats on ECR:
"Believe it or not the early 1994 Defender 90s came standard with NO top (only a tonneau cover came with the vehicle), no rear safari cage, and the rear bench seat was an option as well. This "fastback" top (seen above on a 1995 D90) was an option and was about as cheaply as you could drive away a Defender 90 that actually had a roof. The fastback versions are quite rare today."

[TDI Guy]

My guess is its a prototype also. It does not look like a butchered copy. Has most of the NAS traits to it.

[enjoi1968]

I spy with my little eye....

[JimC]

I saw that, but it's not as big as the normal plate.

[jimmy salmon]

Frogs Island had a few at Billing back in the late 90's. A local women made the tops.
http://www.frogsisland4x4.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=45&Itemid=98

[leastonce]

The UK has so many defenders and the NAS look is popular ... I think it's just something someone put together maybe with a few genuine parts. A genuine cage was probably available from Safety Devices back in the day ... they were very popular brand ... I had one in one of my cars!

The chances that it's a prototype and has stayed in the original form all these years are pretty unlikely.

Defenders are common as muck in the UK and if you looked hard enough you could find lots of NAS replicas!

[Defender50th]

I spy with my little eye....

I thought that is a 50 year sticker, the bottom one in the first pic.

Follow-up Post:

The UK has so many defenders and the NAS look is popular ... I think it's just something someone put together maybe with a few genuine parts. A genuine cage was probably available from Safety Devices back in the day ... they were very popular brand ... I had one in one of my cars!

The chances that it's a prototype and has stayed in the original form all these years are pretty unlikely.

Defenders are common as muck in the UK and if you looked hard enough you could find lots of NAS replicas!

The thing is if you put this together with parts your talking chassis, body, cage, engine, axles ... so would be the whole car. This is also a land rover registered vehicle.

There are lots of NAS replicas here, but they dont come close, this is one we had for a while and it was just cool but not a NAS as its built on a 300tdi, done by frog island.

[diesel_jim]

I just put the VIN into microcat, and the only data it shows (As it's too old to have the full data in the software) is that it's a factory 4.0EFI HC with 5 speed manual.

Well, LR never made any (UK or euro) production 4.0 V8 defenders, so i'd assume that it was certainly a prototype if not a production model that slipped through the net.

The VIn also brings up that numberplate (L840PAC) so that's the original licence plate it had since it's birth.

[Ren Ching]

Someone could write to LR traceability and see where it originally sold to etc. Would be interesting to get a closer look and see if it has the door jamb sticker., and see what it has for axles i.e. does it have the vented discs. And a bunch of other details the NAS nabobs can then chatter on about. :)

I just put the VIN into microcat,

[diesel_jim]

Well, LR never made any (UK or euro) production 4.0 V8 defenders, so i'd assume that it was certainly a prototype if not a production model that slipped through the net.

.Too much time has passed for me to edit my post, i meant to write:

LR never made any production 4.0 manual defenders, of course i'd forgotten the 50th anniversary, but that was a 4.0 with auto.

[evilfij]

That has to be a prototype. There is no way that sticker made it on some clone and everything else is too close to being right. Also, note how it has a painted belt rail on the driver's side rear of the tub. Weird for something with snaps. Also, it has the newer style clutch pedal. Early 1994 NAS trucks had the fat series style. Also, the door panels look a bit different and they have no tubes for the speaker wires.

[Lyman]

haha I guess... probably should of said something like the cool factor of having a 300 tdi.... :cool:


hey... i think you were behind me on the Northway this afternoon... speaking of 300 Tdi... i had my other TDI today.. a black 2010 VW Golf. :)

a few of us are offroading at Rok-Park (http://www.rok-freekz.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=16) tomorrow if interested...

[KKilo23]

hey... i think you were behind me on the Northway this afternoon... speaking of 300 Tdi... i had my other TDI today.. a black 2010 VW Golf. :)

a few of us are offroading at Rok-Park (http://www.rok-freekz.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=16) tomorrow if interested...

Cool! I just saw this post otherwise I would have came up today... I am going to PM you my cell number... give me a ring...

[Lyman]

cancelling due to the rain today. tomorrow is going to be nicer.... so you still have a chance to wheel this weeked. ;)

check your PM's :)

FYI, Rok-Park is over in Fonda, .. not up here in Luzerne. I can meet you just past Rock City Falls on 29 tomorrow if you want to follow me out. Not sure if i'm wheeling the 90 or the buggy. Won't know 'til i see who all is planning on showing up tomorow.

[DonFromWhitby]

There was another softtop model in the UK that looked an awful lot like the 1994 NAS softtops...

Do a Google search for images of the Defender Eastnor LE trucks. They look a LOT like NAS trucks, but are most definitely NOT a NAS.

Here's a french one for sale with a 300tdi and the optional hardtop
http://www.evannonce.com/annonce-375839.html

another french one - this time with the NAS-looking cage:
http://lonslesaunier.olx.fr/defender-90-serie-limite-eastnor-iid-4156117

BTW, on the second link, has anyone ever seem the chequer plate ad-on on the rock slider this guy has? Looks cool - I may want to do that with mine.. keeps em from getting boot-scuffed on the top.

Could this one of them?

[bjf]

I have seen the fiberglass hardtops come up for sale in germany and always wondered why.

Knowing is half the battle

[hillstrubl]

RHD is cool?
Have never given it much thought, but I assumed most ROW truck owners with RHD here simply tolerated it, and, if given the chance would prefer to switch to LHD.
yep, I like it but would switch if i had the cash
haha I guess... probably should of said something like the cool factor of having a 300 tdi.... :cool:
that part i love

[Ren Ching]

RHD is the configuration that LR's were really designed for. Everything fits a little better and certain parts are more easily accessed for maintenance (clutch Master Cylinder for example). The Series trucks and early 4 cylinder 90's and 110's all have the drivetrain located quite a bit left of center, making the footwell wider and thus more leg room on the UK driver's side. 300Tdi and later trucks have the drivetrain moved over 1 inch to the right but there is still more leg room on the RH side. This is important to me as I need that room to stretch my left leg out. My knee is pretty bad on that side. So yeah, RHD is better. Its a bit of a pain in North America but it helps if you have ez-pass and don't do fast food. So yeah, I tolerate the troublesome aspects of it but I still prefer it. I have all the parts to do so, but I doubt I will switch over.

I will add to all this that if there was a steady supply of LHD trucks at a decent price I probably would have bought one. But there isn't, yet anyway, and there is still the legroom issue. My 109 two-door has the same interior dimensions as a defender and it is painful to drive long distances. I often end up with my left shoe off so I can get my foot behind the clutch pedal and stretch my leg out. Yeah there are ways to get the seat back further but that brings with it its own set of issues.




yep, I like it but would switch if i had the cash

that part i love