CORROSION AND NEGLECT

Pre-July 1963 cars have plenty of grease points, so check that they’ve been attended to. Watch for front strut towers and rear leaf spring hangers harbouring serious corrosion. Strut top bearings can seize, leading to stiff steering, while vagueness at the wheel will be wear in the steering box or idler; check that the box isn’t leaking oil or has run dry as rebuilds are tricky and good used ones a few hundred pounds. Brakes are all-drum or disc/drum depending on age. Little-used examples can suffer from corroded and seized components, but the system is cheap to overhaul.