Talbot Solara
The Talbot Solara was launched in April 1980 as a handsome four-door saloon derivative of the Chrysler Alpine hatchback (Project C6), engineered to conquer the traditional UK company-car fleet sector dominated by the Ford Cortina and Morris Marina. Built at Ryton in the UK and Poissy in France, the Solara added three inches of overall length, an enormous boot, and distinctive frontal styling with Talbot's signature 'T' grille emblem. While appreciated for its compliant, supple French suspension and comfortable velour seating, sales struggled against the new Vauxhall Cavalier, leaving surviving Solaras as exceptionally rare and nostalgic 1980s family classics.
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Common Faults & Reliability
These are the most common documented problems for the Talbot Solara, sorted by their typical impact and frequency.
Front wing arches, sills, and vinyl-roof skin corrosion
high severityCorrosion is the single biggest destroyer of surviving Talbot Solaras. Road spray rapidly attacks the front wing lips, sills, and rear wheelarch returns due to nonexistent plastic arch liners. Crucially, early UK-market GLS and SX models were factory-fitted with glued vinyl roof coverings; moisture penetrates the seams, becoming trapped beneath the vinyl and quietly rotting through the structural roof skin and windscreen header rail without obvious early visual warning.
Simca pushrod overhead-valve clatter and oil weeping
medium severityThe 1.3-litre and 1.6-litre Simca engines in the Solara rely on an overhead-valve, side-camshaft architecture that generates a distinct chattering soundtrack. Over extended mileages, mechanical tappets work loose and pushrod ends wear, amplifying the top-end noise. Additionally, cork rocker cover gaskets, sump joints, and rear crankshaft seals dry out and weep oil onto the exhaust downpipe, resulting in unpleasant oil burning smells inside the passenger cabin.
Carburettor cold-start hesitation and automatic choke failure
medium severitySolara 1.6 models utilise Weber or Solex twin-choke carburettors fitted with an automatic bi-metallic choke mechanism. Over time, internal choke diaphragms perish, vacuum pull-off pipes crack, and internal fuel jets suffer from gumming. The choke fails to disengage as the engine warms up, causing over-fuelling, black exhaust smoke, fouled spark plugs, and rough running when attempting to pull away from rest.
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