Land Rover Defender: thirty-three years of one unmistakable shape (1983-2016) The Land Rover Defender ran from 1983 to 2016, the coil-sprung successor to the Series that became one of the most recognisable shapes on earth. A guide to the One Ten, Ninety and 130, the engines from the Tdi to the Td5 and Puma, what to look for when buying (including chassis rot and theft), and what they are worth now.