1985 Talbot Horizon 1.4L Petrol · B81 SHP
1985 Talbot Horizon (1.4L, petrol). First registered 01 Apr 1985. MOT status: No results.
- Make & Model
- TALBOT HORIZON
- Year / Origin
- 1985 · Birmingham
- Safety Recall
- Unknown
- MOT Status
- No results
- Road Tax
- Untaxed (01 Mar 2012)
- Recorded Mileage
- —
- ULEZ Compliance
- Check Required (Pre-Euro 4 Petrol)
- Fuel & Engine
- PETROL · 1.4L
- Reliability Guide
- Common Faults
Thinking of buying this vehicle? Free MOT and tax checks do not cover legal ownership. If outstanding finance exists, finance companies have legal right to repossess without compensation.
B81 SHP Key Findings
- No MOT test records found for this registration
Derived directly from the recorded DVSA and DVLA data shown on this page.
MOT Status
No MOT history available
No MOT test records were found for this registration. DVSA’s digital archive only covers tests from 2005, so a vehicle that has not been tested since then may legitimately have no visible history.
Technical Specifications
Core Specifications
Identification & Status
Dimensions & Weights
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Known faults for Talbot Talbot Horizon
Our database tracks 3 specific mechanical faults and recurring failure patterns identified across UK MOT testing stations for this generation.
MOT Roadworthiness: Average
This rating reflects historical MOT pass rates and recurring advisory wear patterns from official DVSA test logs. Note that roadworthiness does not verify outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen records.
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MOT Status
No MOT history available
No MOT test records were found for this registration. DVSA’s digital archive only covers tests from 2005, so a vehicle that has not been tested since then may legitimately have no visible history.
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TALBOT HORIZON Model Intelligence & Reliability
Verified MOT failure trends, buying advice, and technical directory specifications.
Owner-reported defects, recurring MOT failure points, and estimated repair costs.
Browse production generations, registration statistics, and trim variants.
Historical MOT pass rates and DVLA records for 1985 model year cars.
- Front inner wings, suspension towers, and sill corrosionSerious
Constructed from untreated thin-gauge steel typical of late-1970s Chrysler Europe manufacturing, the Horizon shell is exceptionally vulnerable to salt and road spray. Road dirt gathers behind the unlined front wheel arches and inner wings, causing hidden structural perforation around the front suspension towers and bulkhead. Simultaneously, moisture trapped in the box sills and jacking points rots the structure from the inside out, leading to costly structural MOT failures.
- Simca Poissy pushrod engine tappet clatter and camshaft wearModerate
The 1118cc, 1294cc, and 1442cc Poissy pushrod petrol engines fitted to the Horizon are renowned for their characteristic clattering valvetrain. While durable in their basic casting, the mechanical rocker shaft, pushrods, and valve tappets wear quickly if oil changes are neglected. Even when correctly adjusted with feeler gauges, the valvetrain produces a loud sewing-machine metallic clatter, which becomes deafening if the camshaft lobes wear flat due to blocked oil galleries.
- Cooling radiator silting and blown cylinder head gasketSerious
The compact engine bay of the transverse Horizon restricts airflow, placing significant thermal stress on the downflow radiator core. Over time, internal limescale and sediment clog the narrow water tubes, leading to localised boiling. If uncorrected, this thermal cycling warps the cast-iron cylinder head mating face and blows the composite head gasket, allowing oil and coolant to mix and precipitating sudden roadside breakdowns.
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