1990 Carbodies Taxi/hire CAR 2.7L Diesel · H634 AMT

The defining feature of this 1990 Carbodies taxi's MOT record is a single isolated failure in January 2023 centred on a dangerous stop lamp defect, alongside corrosion advisories that point to the beginnings of structural ageing in the inner sill mounting areas. The vehicle subsequently returned to the testing station nine days later on the same month and passed cleanly, with no defects recorded at all. Across the eight recorded tests between 2017 and 2024, only this one failure and the two corrosion advisories from that 2023 attempt stand out, and the most recent assessment in April 2024 returned a clean pass with no advisories. That pattern suggests the immediate safety defect was rectified, though the underlying corrosion noted on both the offside front and nearside inner sill mounting areas represents a wear point that a buyer should treat as an ongoing concern given the vehicle's age rather than a resolved issue. The recorded mileage of 17,151 miles across approximately 36 years equates to an average annual accumulation of around 480 miles, which is exceptionally low for a vehicle of this type and vintage. A carbodies-built hackney carriage would historically accumulate far higher annual mileages in regular service, so this figure is more consistent with a car that has spent long periods stationary or has had only intermittent use. The MOT gap between May 2017 and June 2018, and again from November 2020 to December 2021, combined with the very low mileage, suggests the vehicle may have been off the road for extended periods at some point in its life. Mechanically, this kind of usage profile tends to produce its own characteristic issues: standing fluid loses its protective properties, rubber components such as suspension bushes, gaiters, and weatherstripping perish from lack of movement, brake discs can corrode on the friction surface even where pad wear is negligible, and the fuel system and cooling system become prone to internal corrosion and seal degradation. For a prospective buyer, the corrosion advisories on the inner sill suspension mounting areas are the single most important items to inspect in person, as these are structural zones that require close scrutiny for any progression since the 2023 advisory. On examination, look for visible perforation, bubbling under the underseal, or any fresh surface rust appearing through paint on both inner sills, and pay particular attention to the suspension strut and lower arm mounting points for any movement when the wheel is rocked by hand. The earlier stop lamp failure indicates that all rear lighting circuits should be tested thoroughly during a pre-purchase inspection, as lighting earth faults are common on older vehicles with aged wiring. On a road test, listen for clonks or rattles from the front suspension over uneven surfaces, which would indicate perished bushes in the lower arms or anti-roll bar links, and feel for any wandering or pulling in the steering that could point to worn tie bar or radius arm components. Brake pedal feel should be checked for sponginess or excessive travel, which can indicate seized caliper sliders or corroded brake pipes given the long periods of low use, and any grinding or pulsation under light braking suggests corroded disc surfaces that may need skim machining or replacement. Finally, given the long standing periods implied by the mileage, a careful inspection of coolant strength, oil condition, and the state of the exhaust system for internal corrosion would be prudent before committing to purchase.