1987 VOLKSWAGEN CARAVELLE1.9L Petrol

The Caravelle shows a currently roadworthy status following its most recent MOT pass on 23 April 2025 at 124,054 miles, with the underlying maintenance trend appearing stable across the last three years. The April 2025 test came six days after a failure on 17 April 2025 at identical mileage, though the record logs no defects for either event. A similar pattern occurred in April 2024, when the van failed on 24 April at 121,867 miles and passed on 30 April at 121,874 miles, again with no defects listed. These back-to-back fail-and-pass pairs suggest administrative or presentation issues at the test centre rather than progressive mechanical decline. At roughly 39 years old the vehicle carries 124,054 recorded miles, equating to about 3,181 miles per year, which is low for a 1987 panel van. The odometer moved only 2,355 miles between the November 2022 pass at 119,699 miles and the April 2024 failure at 121,867 miles, then added just 2,180 miles to the April 2025 pass. Such low annual use over nearly four decades implies long standing periods, which on a vehicle of this age typically accelerates rubber perishing, brake caliper seizure, and structural corrosion even where the record shows a clean sheet. The absence of any recorded advisories or defects across all five entries is unusual for a 1980s Volkswagen and should not be read as proof of sound condition. A buyer must physically inspect the suspension bushes, coil springs, brake discs, and subframe for hidden rust, as MOT testers in 2024 to 2025 may have omitted corrosion commentary on a low-mileage classic. Given the repeated no-defect failures, verify the VIN and test certificates in person to confirm the entries relate to this exact van. Prior owners clearly stored it more than they drove it; expect degraded seals, stiff handbrake mechanisms, and tired tyres from age rather than wear.