1991 FORD ESCORT1.6L PETROL

The 1991 Ford Escort presents a stable and improving maintenance trend, culminating in a clean pass on 27 May 2026 at 86,498 miles with zero defects recorded. That result follows a clean pass on 14 May 2025 at 86,345 miles, confirming the vehicle has been in consistently sound mechanical order over the last two years. The only blemish in the visible history occurred on 22 January 2024 at 86,063 miles, when the tester failed the car for an exhaust leak preventing emissions completion. The fault was evidently repaired promptly, as the retest on 2 February 2024 at 86,068 miles passed cleanly. No recurring defects appear across the record, and the trajectory from that single exhaust issue to three consecutive clean passes indicates a resolving rather than worsening pattern. The mileage profile is notably low for a 35-year-old vehicle. Between the December 2022 test at 85,698 miles and the May 2026 test at 86,498 miles, the car covered just 800 miles across roughly three and a half years. Annualised across the full age of the vehicle, the total of 86,498 miles equates to approximately 2,471 miles per year, well below typical usage. The gap between the 2022 and 2024 tests shows only 365 miles added in over a year, suggesting prolonged periods of limited use or standing. Such low mileage reduces wear on consumables, drivetrain, and braking components, but extended periods of inactivity carry their own risks, including deteriorated rubber seals, dried-out suspension bushes, and corroded brake components from standing. Despite the clean MOT record, a buyer should carry out a thorough physical inspection focused on areas that MOT tests do not fully assess. The 2024 exhaust leak indicates the system should be checked for corrosion, particularly at joints and the manifold, and the catalytic converter's condition verified. Suspension bushes, coil springs, and shock absorbers deserve close scrutiny, as rubber components degrade with age regardless of mileage. Brake discs, calipers, and flexible hoses should be inspected for surface corrosion and binding, common issues on vehicles that stand for extended periods. The underbody and sills require careful examination for structural corrosion, a critical concern on 1990s Ford Escorts where inner sill and floor pan rot can develop without obvious external signs. Tyre age and condition should also be verified, as low-mileage vehicles frequently carry tyres that are technically legal but perished from age.