1972 Marlin Roadster 1.8L Petrol · JLU 128K

The vehicle maintains a roadworthy status, but the maintenance trend shows a persistent pattern of rubber component degradation and mechanical wear. The most recent test in July 2025 at 57,310 miles flagged a severely deteriorated offside front suspension rod ball joint dust cover. This follows a recurring history of deteriorating gaiters and dust covers noted in 2022 and 2023, suggesting that age-related material failure is occurring despite the low annual mileage. The mileage profile is exceptionally low for a fifty-five-year-old vehicle, averaging approximately 1,042 miles per year. There is a significant gap in records between May 2019 at 55,813 miles and October 2023 at 57,282 miles, during which the car covered only 1,469 miles over four years. This infrequent use pattern reduces wear on the drivetrain but often correlates with the drying of seals and the cracking of rubber components, which is consistent with the various faults identified in the MOT history. A buyer must conduct a thorough physical inspection of the steering and suspension assemblies. The record shows repeated issues with the nearside front wheel bearing in 2022 and 2017, alongside play in the torque/reaction arm bushes identified back in 2017. Furthermore, the nearside rear road wheel was noted as distorted in both 2022 and 2023, indicating a potential structural weakness or impact damage to the rim. Structural integrity requires close attention, specifically the offside front chassis near the door shut which was flagged as rusty in 2017. While the oil leak in 2022 was described as not excessive, the presence of such leaks warrants monitoring for progression. The recurring electrical faults regarding position lamps being affected by indicators suggest a wiring or housing issue that has not been fully rectified by previous owners.