1961 Rover 100 2.6L Petrol · 8400 KB

The most recent DVSA examination on 7 August 2026 recorded a clean pass with no advisories or defects, following an equally clean pass on 22 August 2025. This represents a notably stable and reassuring maintenance trend at the most recent tests, particularly when set against the cluster of failures and advisories recorded in 2023. On 12 July 2023 and again on 28 June 2023 the vehicle failed on nearside front suspension wear, specifically lift in the king pin and play in the intermediate drop arm, accompanied by advisories for an oil leak, offside rear tyre perishing, and a slightly binding nearside rear service brake. By the August 2025 and August 2026 tests these items had either been rectified or had progressed beyond the failure threshold, suggesting that remedial work on the front suspension and steering was undertaken in the intervening period. The absence of advisories on the two most recent passes does, however, warrant direct physical verification rather than assuming the issues have been permanently resolved. The recorded mileage of 36,960 miles on a vehicle of this vintage equates to a remarkably modest average of around 569 miles per year over its sixty-five year life. Such low annual usage is characteristic of a classic car that has either been used sparingly, laid up for extended periods, or both, and this pattern is reflected in the sparse MOT history, which shows a long gap between the 2016 and 2018 tests and another between 2018 and 2023. Low mileage reduces wear on major drivetrain components such as the engine, gearbox, and clutch, but it introduces its own set of age-related concerns. Seals, gaskets, hoses, and flexible components deteriorate with calendar age rather than mileage, and standing vehicles are particularly susceptible to corrosion, brake seizure, fluid degradation, and electrical faults. Given that the most recent record is clean but the underlying advisories concerned steering, suspension, and fluid leaks, a prospective buyer should carry out a focused physical inspection before purchase. With respect to the historical front suspension and steering advisories, it is essential to check the king pins, intermediate drop arm, track rod ends, and steering box for any renewed play, by rocking the steering with the engine running and the wheels raised, and listening for clonks or clunks over uneven surfaces which would indicate worn bushes or king pin wear. The earlier oil leak advisory, noted at both the engine and differential, should prompt a careful under-bonnet and underside examination for fresh seepage or staining, with the engine warm, and a check of fluid levels. The nearside rear brake binding advisory means the offside and nearside rear drums should be inspected for free operation, ensuring the handbrake releases cleanly and the wheels rotate without drag when jacked, as binding calipers or seized wheel cylinders are common after long standing periods. Tyre condition deserves particular attention, as cracking and perishing of the offside rear and nearside rear tyres have been a recurring advisory. Even if replacements have been fitted, a thorough examination of all four sidewalls for ozone cracking, dry rot, and tread depth is essential, as aged tyres on a low-mileage classic can appear serviceable but be structurally compromised. Equally important on a vehicle of this profile is a comprehensive check of time-served consumables: the 12V battery should be load-tested as batteries that have stood discharged suffer permanent capacity loss, brake fluid and coolant should be dated and replaced on a calendar basis regardless of mileage due to hygroscopic absorption and corrosion inhibitor depletion, and the fuel system should be examined for stale fuel and ethanol-related degradation in rubber components. Finally, the 2018 advisory concerning nearside front outer chassis corrosion and corroded front jacking points warrants a thorough inspection of structural integrity using a torch and mirror, particularly along the inner sills, outriggers, and suspension mounting areas, as corrosion in load-bearing areas is the principal safety concern on any classic of this age and is best identified by a professional pre-purchase inspection with the vehicle raised on a ramp.