1985 Talbot Horizon
Browse our directory of 1985 Talbot Horizon vehicles. Access instant MOT history reports, tax status, and reliability insights for any registration listed below.
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Showing registrations 1–15 of 15 for the 1985 Talbot Horizon. Select any plate for an instant vehicle history check.
Common Problems & Reliability
The 1985 Talbot Horizon has 3 known issues. 2 of these are classified as serious faults that could be expensive to repair. 1 are moderate concerns worth inspecting before purchase.
Front inner wings, suspension towers, and sill corrosion
SeriousConstructed from untreated thin-gauge steel typical of late-1970s Chrysler Europe manufacturing, the Horizon shell is exceptionally vulnerable to salt and road spray. Road dirt gathers behind the unlined front wheel arches and inner wings, causing hidden structural perforation around the front suspension towers and bulkhead. Simultaneously, moisture trapped in the box sills and jacking points rots the structure from the inside out, leading to costly structural MOT failures.
Symptoms: Visible bubbling and pinholing along the front wing arches and outer sills, Crunching sounds or flexing metal when placing a trolley jack under standard jacking points
Est. repair cost: £350–£1,100
Cooling radiator silting and blown cylinder head gasket
SeriousThe compact engine bay of the transverse Horizon restricts airflow, placing significant thermal stress on the downflow radiator core. Over time, internal limescale and sediment clog the narrow water tubes, leading to localised boiling. If uncorrected, this thermal cycling warps the cast-iron cylinder head mating face and blows the composite head gasket, allowing oil and coolant to mix and precipitating sudden roadside breakdowns.
Symptoms: Coolant temperature gauge needle creeping steadily into the red sector during slow city traffic, Mayonnaise-like emulsified oil sludge beneath the rocker oil filler cap and coolant bubbling in the header tank
Est. repair cost: £250–£650
Simca Poissy pushrod engine tappet clatter and camshaft wear
ModerateThe 1118cc, 1294cc, and 1442cc Poissy pushrod petrol engines fitted to the Horizon are renowned for their characteristic clattering valvetrain. While durable in their basic casting, the mechanical rocker shaft, pushrods, and valve tappets wear quickly if oil changes are neglected. Even when correctly adjusted with feeler gauges, the valvetrain produces a loud sewing-machine metallic clatter, which becomes deafening if the camshaft lobes wear flat due to blocked oil galleries.
Symptoms: Loud, rhythmic metallic tapping from the upper rocker cover that accelerates with engine speed, Loss of top-end power and rough engine idle caused by reduced valve lift
Est. repair cost: £120–£450
Buying Tips for the 1985 Talbot Horizon
- Check inner wings, suspension strut mounts, and sills thoroughly: thin steel and poor factory rust-proofing claimed the vast majority of UK Horizons.
- Listen to the Simca pushrod engine at warm idle: loud upper-engine clatter indicates worn rocker gear and out-of-adjustment mechanical tappets.
- Prefer Series 2 models from 1984 onwards if you intend to tour: they feature the far slicker Peugeot-developed BE1 five-speed gearbox in place of the older four-speed unit.
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