The most recent DVSA MOT test, conducted on 2024-04-26, resulted in a clean pass with no advisories or defects recorded, indicating that at the point of inspection the vehicle satisfied all statutory roadworthiness requirements. The preceding tests in 2018 and 2017 were similarly clean passes, suggesting a broadly stable maintenance trend over the most recent decade of recorded history. However, the 2016 test cycle warrants careful consideration: a failure was recorded on 2016-05-18 for multiple braking deficiencies, including service brake efficiency below requirements, parking brake efficiency below requirements, front brake imbalance across an axle, and a non-functioning nearside front position lamp, alongside advisories noting small play in the offside front king pin and slight play in the nearside rear wheel bearing. The subsequent advisory-only pass just five days later on 2016-05-23, retaining the same king pin and wheel bearing advisories, indicates that those steering and rear axle wear items were identified but not deemed severe enough to fail, leaving the maintenance trajectory arguably stable but with older wear flags still outstanding from nearly a decade ago.
The recorded mileage of 5,476 miles across a vehicle of approximately 99 years of age equates to an annual average of roughly 55 miles, which is extraordinarily low even by vintage car standards. This figure strongly suggests prolonged periods of standing, which is consistent with the sparse MOT history and the very limited number of recorded test entries across nearly a century of vehicle life. Such low annual usage reduces wear on high-mileage components such as the engine internals, transmission, and final drive, but introduces a distinct set of age-related deterioration risks. Standing vehicles are particularly susceptible to moisture accumulation in the engine and gearbox, internal corrosion of brake hydraulic components, seizure of brake calipers and wheel cylinders, oxidation of fuel system components, and degradation of flexible hoses, seals, and gaskets. The 2016 brake-related failures, given the cumulative years of likely minimal use preceding the test, are entirely consistent with caliper seizure, glazed or corroded brake friction surfaces, or perished hydraulic seals producing the imbalance and reduced efficiency recorded at that examination.
Given the vehicle's advanced age and evident periods of inactivity, a prospective buyer should undertake a thorough physical inspection well beyond the MOT certificate alone. Tyres should be examined closely for sidewall perishing and cracking, as rubber compounds degrade with calendar age regardless of tread depth, and any tyres older than seven or eight years from their DOT date stamp should be replaced regardless of appearance. Brake discs and drums, particularly on an early post-vintage chassis such as this, are highly likely to exhibit surface corrosion and lipping from standing; the calipers, wheel cylinders, and flexible brake hoses should be inspected for seizure, leakage, and internal deterioration, and the hydraulic fluid should be considered time-expired and due for renewal regardless of any visual assessment. The king pin and rear wheel bearing play noted in 2016 advisories should be specifically rechecked, as these steering and axle components deteriorate progressively; symptoms on a test drive would include imprecise steering, wander, knocking or clunking from the front axle over uneven surfaces, and rumbling or grinding from the rear axle indicating bearing wear. Equally, the cooling system, engine oil, gearbox oil, differential oil, and fuel should be evaluated for age-related contamination and water ingress, and the 12V electrical system, including wiring insulation, battery condition, and lighting circuits, should be assessed for degradation given the vehicle's century of age.
Beyond the mechanical systems, the overall structural integrity of the chassis, body panels, and particularly the ash timber framing if so equipped should be carefully examined for rot, corrosion, and historic repair quality, as these factors bear directly on the vehicle's safety and usability. A road test should include checks for effective cold-starting, stable idle, absence of excessive smoke, smooth gearchange, and confirmation that the brakes pull evenly without shudder or pulling to one side, as any residual imbalance would confirm that the 2016 axle imbalance issue has either returned or was never fully rectified. Prospective buyers should also verify the authenticity and continuity of the service history, confirm whether the vehicle has been stored in dry, heated conditions or exposed to damp environments, and budget realistically for recommissioning costs such as new fuel lines, a full brake overhaul, fresh fluids throughout, new tyres, and electrical refurbishment. With appropriate inspection and sympathetic recommissioning, a low-mileage Lagonda of this vintage can represent a highly desirable acquisition, but the combination of calendar age and minimal recorded running means that the MOT pass is best regarded as a snapshot rather than a comprehensive guarantee of current mechanical health.