1987 Reliant Scimitar 1.8L Petrol · E455 JKS

The most recent MOT on 22 June 2026 was passed, but it carried four advisories – front brake disc surface wear, slight play in the off‑side front wheel bearing and near‑side and off‑side rear tyres approaching the legal tread limit. Over the last six years the record shows a mixture of isolated failures (horn, parking brake, headlamp aim and a severe wheel‑bearing play) that have since disappeared, while the same minor bearing play and a deteriorating door hinge have persisted. The trend is therefore one of overall stability with the major safety items having been remedied and the remaining issues confined to wear items that will need attention in the near future. At 100,000 mi the car averages roughly 2,500 mi per year, which is very low for a 1987 model. Such limited mileage often indicates long periods of inactivity rather than gentle use, and age‑related degradation of rubber, seals and metal can be as significant as mileage‑driven wear. There are no obvious gaps in the recorded MOT dates, suggesting the vehicle has been kept on the road, but the low annual usage means that components such as suspension bushes, tyre sidewalls and the battery may have suffered from ageing and occasional standing rather than high‑stress wear. A prospective buyer should put the front brake discs under a micrometer or at least measure the remaining thickness and inspect the surface for deep scoring; if the disc is close to the minimum thickness the vehicle will soon need a disc replacement and possibly new pads. The off‑side front wheel bearing, flagged repeatedly for slight play, should be checked for a humming or grinding noise when the car is lifted and for any looseness in the hub – replacement is advisable before the play increases to a dangerous level. The rear tyres, both reported as worn close to the legal limit, must be measured for tread depth and inspected for sidewall cracking; given the age of the car, tyre rubber may have perished even if the tread appears adequate, so replacement is prudent. The door hinge on the off‑side driver’s side should be examined for rust, squeak and any difficulty in operation, and the steering rack inner joint play noted in 2024 should be felt during a low‑speed turn for any vague clunk or looseness that could indicate forthcoming rack wear. Because the vehicle has spent many years at low mileage, time‑based maintenance is critical. Verify the condition of the 12 V battery and consider a load test, as electrolyte loss and plate sulphation are common after long storage. Inspect all rubber hoses, the coolant pipe and the brake pipe that was previously noted as rubbing on the steering column for cracks, brittleness or signs of leakage; replace any that show age‑related hardening. Check the brake fluid for a dark colour and consider a flush if it has not been serviced in the last two years. Finally, test the horn, parking brake hold, and headlamp alignment to ensure the earlier failures have been fully rectified before committing to purchase.