FORD FIESTA1997 · 1.4L PETROL

The most recent MOT entry dates back to July 2008, when the vehicle failed at 54,769 miles, meaning this Fiesta has held no valid test certificate for nearly eighteen years as of June 2026. The maintenance trend is clearly deteriorating rather than stable. The 2008 failure flagged a deteriorated offside front suspension arm rubber bush and excessively corroded spring mountings on the offside front and rear, indicating the structural integrity of the suspension mounting points was already compromised. With no subsequent retest or recorded activity, there is no evidence these defects were ever rectified. The mileage profile tells a story of very light use followed by a long period of inactivity. Between April 2006 at 47,907 miles and July 2008 at 54,769 miles, the car covered roughly 6,862 miles in just over two years, averaging around 3,400 miles annually during that window. However, the recorded mileage has remained frozen at 54,769 since the 2008 failure. A vehicle sitting stationary for nearly two decades raises serious concerns beyond the documented faults. Rubber components such as bushes, hoses, and tyres deteriorate with age regardless of mileage, and brake seizure, fuel system degradation, and fluid contamination are all highly probable after prolonged storage. A buyer should treat this car as a non-runner requiring a thorough mechanical and structural inspection before any road use. The 2007 and 2008 failures both identified corrosion in prescribed suspension mounting areas and structural body mounts, which directly affects the vehicle's structural integrity. These are not minor cosmetic issues. Any inspection must focus on the offside front and rear spring mounting points, the condition of all suspension bushes, and the extent of corrosion within 30cm of body mountings on both sides. The front brake discs were noted as excessively pitted in 2006, and with the car stationary for eighteen years, caliper seizure and seized brake components should be assumed until proven otherwise. Beyond the documented defects, the tyre condition demands immediate attention. A 1997 Fiesta sitting since 2008 will almost certainly have perished, cracked, or flat-spotted tyres regardless of remaining tread depth. The rear exhaust system was already flagged as excessively deteriorated in 2006, and further corrosion of the exhaust, fuel lines, and braking system must be expected. This vehicle's value lies primarily as a restoration project or parts donor rather than a roadworthy purchase without significant mechanical and structural reconditioning.