HOW TO BAG THE BEST DEAL

STRUCTURE 1

Check for rust around the headlamps and rear edge of the front panels. The worst rust is often in the inner wings and the sills – which have two vertical channels under the doors if they’re original.

2 ENGINES

Their longevity is legendary, but that’s no excuse for sloppy maintenance. Failure of seals and gaskets are the main bugbears, so look for coolant or oil leaks. A rough idle shouldn’t be of too much concern, but be wary of bottomend rumbles or blue exhaust smoke, indicating expensive internal wear.

3 GEARBOX

Check the service history for the regular oil changes that can enable these four-speed manual ‘boxes to soldier on forever. Listen for whines or roughness when changing gear, signalling a rebuild is due. Overdrive was standard on UK cars – a blown relay is usually to blame if it doesn’t work.

4 RUNNING GEAR

Suspension bushes wear out, so check for vibrations, and ask the seller if you can use a pry bar to check for signs of play. Brake servos are tricky to rebuild, so check for slick operation.

TRIM AND 5

INTERIOR

Originality is key, as replacement door trim, dashboards, carpets and seat materials aren’t cheap. Sit in both front seats to ensure that they haven’t collapsed inside.