WHAT TO LOOK FOR

THIN AND CRISPY

Thin panels pick up parking dents, and although galvanised from 1987 panel rust is likely. Look for rot around the windscreen surrounds, inner wings and front strut turrets, rear quarter panels, and at the rear of the door aperture. Check the floor and suspension mounts, along with chassis legs for signs of distortion. Inside, watch for brittle plastic trim, worn seat bolsters and electrical gremlins.

PROPERLY MAINTAINED?

Engines are long-lasting if serviced regularly, but watch for cylinder head gasket leaks and old cam belts. Perished valve stem oil seals cause a smoky exhaust while poor running is usually down to injection issues, which will likely require specialist attention. Crunching gearbox synchromeshes and a baggy shift aren’t uncommon; the latter can be sorted by linkage refurbishment. Clutch cable replacement is fiddly and tends to be

ignored, leading to a stiff pedal.

AXLE BEARING ALERT

Left unchecked, failed rear radius arm bearings will damage the axle itself. Most have been rebuilt by now, so check the history and look for wonky rear wheel alignment. It’s a £700-plus fix if damage has occurred. Front wishbone bushes can wear quickly but are easy to sort with a new replacement arm and it’s worth checking for wear in the steering rack and bushes. Corroded brake pipes and failed ABS are other points worth watching for, as is the telltale rumbling of failed wheel bearings.