DVLA verified

1978 VOLKSWAGEN DELIVERY VAN1.6L Petrol

ABM 485S

Vehicle Insight Summary

This 1978 VOLKSWAGEN DELIVERY VAN is a Petrol vehicle with a 1584cc engine. Currently it has no valid MOT recorded and is not currently taxed. The latest recorded mileage is 79,325.

MOT
Expired
Expires 13/06/2024
Tax
No data
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£8.99
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Fuel
Petrol
Year
1978
Engine
1584cc
Expert AI · Mechanic's Insight
The 1978 Volkswagen Delivery Van presents a currently roadworthy status, having passed its most recent MOT on 14 June 2023 at 79,325 miles with no defects recorded. The maintenance trend across the supplied history is stable but shows a recurring administrative quirk: the vehicle failed two tests in consecutive years before immediate passes at identical mileages, with no defects logged on any failure. This pattern suggests the failures stemmed from documentation or presentation issues rather than mechanical condition, and the absence of advisories indicates no worsening faults tracked by testers. Recorded mileage sits at 79,325 against an age of roughly 48 years, equating to about 1,653 miles per year. The van added only 1,666 miles between the 29 July 2022 test at 77,659 miles and the June 2023 test at 79,325 miles. Both 2022 and 2023 show paired tests within weeks at the same mileage, implying the vehicle was seldom driven between tests and likely stored for long periods. Such low annual use reduces consumable wear but raises the risk of perished seals, flat-spotted tyres, and corrosion from standing. A buyer should physically inspect structural integrity for rust on chassis rails, sills, and floor pans given the age and intermittent use. The brake system needs checking for seized calipers or degraded hoses after long storage. Suspension bushes and coil springs may have cracked through age rather than load, so examine them closely. Verify the reason for the 10 May 2023 and 13 July 2022 failures with DVSA, since no defects appear on the record. Confirm exhaust emissions comply with historic vehicle standards. Given the clean advisories, the van looks cared for cosmetically, but static storage demands a hands-on check of mechanical elasticity before purchase.

AI insights are experimental and can be incorrect. All claims should be manually verified.

Free vehicle health score

45
/ 100 · Below Average

Public record health check: Below Average.

Based on free DVLA & DVSA signals. Premium checks for stolen/finance/write-off history are locked below.

✗ MOT Expired or Failed
! Tax Status Unknown
! Average MOT pass rate (50%)
! Older vehicle
A score of 45 doesn't mean it's safe to buy. Private markers don't appear in public data.
Verified Experian Data

Full History Report

Official provenance and safety check for ABM485S

Data provided by Experian
Stolen
Locked
Finance
Locked
Write-off
Locked
Salvage
Locked
Imported
Locked
Exported
Locked
Scrapped
Locked
Destruction
Locked
V5C Logbook
Locked
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Technical Specifications

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Full MOT History

Live data last synced with DVSA: 15 Apr 2026, 17:56
Expert AI · Mechanic's Insight
The 1978 Volkswagen Delivery Van presents a currently roadworthy status, having passed its most recent MOT on 14 June 2023 at 79,325 miles with no defects recorded. The maintenance trend across the supplied history is stable but shows a recurring administrative quirk: the vehicle failed two tests in consecutive years before immediate passes at identical mileages, with no defects logged on any failure. This pattern suggests the failures stemmed from documentation or presentation issues rather than mechanical condition, and the absence of advisories indicates no worsening faults tracked by testers. Recorded mileage sits at 79,325 against an age of roughly 48 years, equating to about 1,653 miles per year. The van added only 1,666 miles between the 29 July 2022 test at 77,659 miles and the June 2023 test at 79,325 miles. Both 2022 and 2023 show paired tests within weeks at the same mileage, implying the vehicle was seldom driven between tests and likely stored for long periods. Such low annual use reduces consumable wear but raises the risk of perished seals, flat-spotted tyres, and corrosion from standing. A buyer should physically inspect structural integrity for rust on chassis rails, sills, and floor pans given the age and intermittent use. The brake system needs checking for seized calipers or degraded hoses after long storage. Suspension bushes and coil springs may have cracked through age rather than load, so examine them closely. Verify the reason for the 10 May 2023 and 13 July 2022 failures with DVSA, since no defects appear on the record. Confirm exhaust emissions comply with historic vehicle standards. Given the clean advisories, the van looks cared for cosmetically, but static storage demands a hands-on check of mechanical elasticity before purchase.

AI insights are experimental and can be incorrect. All claims should be manually verified.

AI Analysis · MOT Narrative

Checking the history for this 1978 Volkswagen Delivery Van (ABM 485S), we found 4 MOT results in the period of July 2022 to June 2023.

Across its entire MOT history, this Volkswagen has a 50% success rate (2 passes and 2 fails). This pass rate is below average and potential buyers should investigate the failure history carefully.

AI insights are experimental and can be incorrect. All claims should be manually verified.

PASS
FAIL
ADVISORY