FORD ESCORT1987 · 1.6L Petrol

The 1987 Ford Escort presents a currently roadworthy status following a pass at the 16 February 2026 test with 19,655 miles recorded. The maintenance trend appears stable on paper, with the most recent examination returning no defects. Prior to that pass, the vehicle failed at the 3 February 2026 test with 19,653 miles, yet the record shows no defects logged against that failure, an irregularity suggesting an administrative or procedural issue rather than a mechanical fault. The recorded mileage of 19,655 at 39 years of age equates to roughly 504 miles per year, confirming exceptionally light use. The two 2026 entries sit 13 and 26 days before the current date of 8 July 2026, making the history recent but sparse. Only two tests appear in the supplied data, with just two miles accrued between the February failure and the pass, indicating the car has stood largely idle. A buyer should physically verify the structural integrity and check for corrosion on chassis and sills, as long-standing low-mileage vehicles of this era commonly suffer hidden rust despite clean MOT advisories. The absence of flagged suspension bushes, brake discs, or exhaust emissions faults in the record does not exempt the car from in-person inspection of binding calipers or degraded rubber components after decades of storage. Given the unexplained February failure with no defects cited, the buyer should obtain the original failure notice and confirm the DVSA outcome was not a withheld mechanical concern. Pre-purchase checks should prioritise underbody condition and fluid degradation over consumable wear, which the low mileage makes unlikely to be advanced.