1967 DAX Tojeiro Cobra 3.5L Petrol · RAB 680F

The most recent MOT test on 30 August 2023 at 6,973 miles returned a clean pass with no defects recorded, continuing an unbroken pattern of passes stretching back to 2013. The maintenance trend is stable and improving. The 2013 test flagged slight play in three wheel bearings, two rear and one front, yet subsequent tests in 2016, 2017, 2021 and 2023 recorded no defects at all. This suggests the bearing issues were addressed and have not recurred. The recorded mileage pattern demands careful interpretation. Over nearly 59 years, the odometer reads only 6,973 miles, averaging roughly 118 miles annually. Between 2013 and 2016, the vehicle accumulated just 27 miles. Usage increased modestly thereafter, with 140 miles added between 2016 and 2017, 845 miles between 2017 and 2021, and 172 miles between 2021 and 2023. The long dormant periods, particularly the four-year gap between 2017 and 2021, carry equal significance to the low absolute figure. Extended storage can degrade seals, hoses and fluid systems through lack of circulation rather than wear. A prospective purchaser should commission a thorough pre-purchase inspection focusing on age-related deterioration rather than mileage-related wear. The wheel bearing history, though resolved, indicates this area warrants particular scrutiny. Brake calipers and lines may suffer from corrosion or internal pitting after prolonged inactivity. Rubber components including suspension bushes, coolant hoses and fuel lines require close examination for perishing. The exhaust system and catalytic converter, if fitted, may show corrosion from condensation during storage periods. Engine seals and the clutch mechanism can harden and leak when left stationary. Fluid condition, including brake fluid hygroscopic absorption and engine oil acidity, should be verified regardless of scant mileage. The absence of structural corrosion advisories across all tests is encouraging for a vehicle of this vintage. However, the low mileage profile means standard wear indicators are unreliable. A documented service history substantiating regular maintenance during inactive periods would materially strengthen confidence in this vehicle's mechanical integrity.