BUYING TIPS

1 STRAIGHT SIX DELIGHT

The six-cylinder engine is fundamentally durable, but can suffer from excessive crankshaft end float. Watch the crank pulley as someone depresses the clutch to check for movement – too much and a rebuild is on the cards. Listen out for the valve gear. A slight rattle at start-up is fine but it should soon disappear.

2 STRUCTURAL ISSUES

Major chassis repairs will be a body-off job and not for the faint-hearted, so ensure it gets a thorough examination. Significant rot spots include the main outriggers, the rails around the differential and the point where the chassis meets the front bulkhead.

3 WATCH OUT FOR BODY CORROSION

There are plenty of places to check when it comes to corrosion, and the usual suspects such as door bottoms, wheel arches, and inner and out wings are all at risk. You should also pay particular attention to the inner and outer sills and the front bulkhead.

4 STOPPING PERFORMANCE

The braking system is both easy and cheap to overhaul, so a basic check of condition will suffice. While checking the brakes, take a look at the splines and hubs if wire wheels are fitted – they were a popular addition in period, but deteriorate fairly quickly and eventually require a specialist rebuild to bring back up to scratch.