Buyer beware…

ENGINE

On A-series 948cc, 1098cc and 1275cc engines, check the oil pressure and for signs of oil smoke and fumes. The 1275cc engine is popular with DIY tuners so look for signs of ham-fisted tweakery. A leaky head gasket, worn valve stem seals and noisy tappets are other issues to look out for. The later 1.5 engine had weak crankshaft journals so listen for rumblings below.

TRANSMISSION

Expect straight-cut first and reverse gears to whine, but you may need an expert to help you distinguish that from noisy bearings. On the remaining gears, feel for worn synchros. Listen for a noisy rear differential.

STEERING, SUSPENSION AND BRAKES

Don’t put up with suspension and steering that feels loose and bouncy. Common issues are worn or corroded kingpins, leaky dampers, rusty leaf spring hangers and broken springs. Check the lubrication points have fresh grease on them. Seized pistons, scored and worn discs, leaking brake hoses and corroded cables are common.

BODY

Use a magnet to tell filler from steel, and a screwdriver to tell rust from paint. Sills, A-posts, doors and wheel arches rust badly. Roofless, wetweather motoring will soak carpets and cause floors to rust. Don’t ignore the boot floor, especially where it meets the rear upright panel. The rear spring hangers corrode badly, too.

INTERIOR

Check for torn vinyl, rotten wood trim, mouldy carpets and broken switches. However, compared with fixing bodywork, these are minor issues.