BUYING TIPS

1 ENGINE ISSUES

These engines are tough and simple, so it’s only familiar maladies that you need to look out for, such as blue smoke from the exhaust and worrying sounds from deep within the engine. Expect some tappet noise and timing chain rattle. Oil pressure of between 30 and 50psi when warm and cruising is a good figure.

2 DOWN BELOW

MkV and MkVI cars had disc brakes at the front, but before that it was drums all round. But neither type has any real faults to speak of. Synchromesh is likely to be dodgy around second gear on high-mileage cars with floormounted gearboxes, while worn linkages can make column-shift changes tricky. Lubrication and adjustment can improve things immeasurably.

3 BODY BAD OR BEAUTIFUL?

Rust can often be found around the grille, behind the headlamps and on the front wings where they meet the front valance, plus the wheelarches and trailing edges, especially towards the front of the sill. Inner wings also suffer. The sills themselves are vulnerable, as are the rear wheelarches and rear valance.

4 INSIDE STORY

The right-mounted handbrake can rust and ultimately break at its mountings. Lift the carpets to check the floorpan, especially the driver’s footwell. Scrutinise the wooden dashboard for cracks in the veneer. The switchgear is shared with lots of other Rootesmobiles, but other trim – outside and in – can be trickier to source.