1988 Fiat Ducato 2.5L Diesel · E294 BUD

The Fiat Ducato presents as roadworthy with a stable maintenance trend. The most recent test on 27 October 2025 at 98,128 miles returned a pass with no defects recorded, and the three prior passes from 2022 through 2024 likewise noted no advisories or faults. The single failure on 26 June 2023 at 96,079 miles is anomalous: the DVSA record shows a fail on the same date and mileage as a pass, with no defects listed against either entry, suggesting an administrative anomaly rather than a mechanical fault. The mileage pattern reflects extremely light use for a 38-year-old vehicle. From the 2022 test at 96,015 miles to the 2025 test at 98,128 miles, the Ducato covered just 2,113 miles across three years, averaging roughly 704 miles per year. Earlier, the gap between the June 2023 and November 2024 tests shows only 572 miles added. Such low annual accumulation indicates prolonged standing periods, which on a 1988 panel van raises the prospect of perished rubber components, seized brake calipers, and dormant corrosion rather than wear from high mileage. A buyer should physically inspect the suspension bushes, coil springs, and brake discs for deterioration linked to inactivity. The tester recorded no advisories on any test, so no recurring structural or mechanical faults appear in the data, but the absence of flagged corrosion does not preclude hidden rust on chassis rails or sills given the vehicle's age and likely outdoor storage. Given the clean MOT history and minimal mileage, the previous owner appears to have maintained basic statutory compliance, though the duplicate June 2023 entry warrants a check of the DVSA portal for clarification. A pre-purchase inspection should prioritise underbody structural integrity and brake binding after standstill.