HOW TO BAG THE BEST DEAL

1BODY AND CHASSIS

The body shell is made from Duroplast, so it doesn’t rust, but you’ll need to check the roof’s steel frame for corrosion.

2ENGINES

The two-strokes are extremely simple, but listen for unhealthy rattles from the bearings. Emissions were always terrible, so expect a little smoke from the exhaust. Later two-strokes had electronic ignition to improve reliability. Carbs must be cleaned every 20,000km.

3 RUNNING GEAR

Early models had drum brakes all round until 1989, when front disc brakes were added. Rear suspension changed from leaf springs to MacPherson struts in 1989. Lubricate steering components, bearings and brake cables every 10,000km or every six months.

4INTERIOR AND ELECTRICS

Expect there to be some damage to the seats, but there are aftermarket suppliers for a lot of the parts, which can be easily replaced. To be legal in the UK, headlamps will need replacing with RHD versions, and rear seatbelts must be fitted to vehicles built after April 1987.

5 CHOOSE YOUR VARIANT

Earliest are the P50s (1957-62), followed by the P60 when the engine increased to 594cc. With the P601 in 1964 came a small facelift. Other than that, the major update was the 1.1-litre VW Polo engine for the P1100 from 1989.