BUYING TIPS

1 BODY SURVEY

The first thing prospective buyers must check is the bodywork – both what you can see and the underside, because the Mayflower features unitary construction. Corrosion has killed off many Mayflowers over the years so any serious rot means you should walk away. Unless you’re particularly handy with a welder.

2 PANEL PERFECTION

Finding replacement body panels isn’t easy – remember the Mayflower wasn’t built in large numbers and many have already been scrapped. If your car needs wings, doors, bootlid or even glass, then a donor car is going to be your best bet if the owners’ club can’t help. Alternatively, wait for a better example to surface.

3 HOW’S THE INTERIOR?

The interior is a relatively smart place to be but the ageing process is likely to have taken its toll over the years. Seat facings can deteriorate if exposed to the sun and door cards exposed to water ingress rot quickly. Headlinings are vulnerable to staining and failing adhesive causes them to droop and fall away. Once again, a good donor car may be your saviour if any trim needs to be replaced.

4 TAKE A DRIVE

A good example should have a smooth gearchange and the clutch should be light and unobstructive. Even the best engines won’t give any more than average performance, but all should be reasonably quiet and smooth in operation.