1957 Austin Healey 100-6 100-6 2.7L Petrol · TYJ 267

A single MOT test cycle sits on file for this 1957 Austin-Healey 100-6, and it is dominated by a serious safety event rather than routine wear and tear. On 6 June 2023 the vehicle was submitted for test and failed with four Dangerous defects recorded against all four tyres, each noted as having ply or cords exposed. Tyres in this condition are illegal for use on the road regardless of tread depth, as the underlying casing is exposed and can lead to sudden deflation or loss of control under load. The same submission also carried an advisory for a front oil leak that was not deemed excessive at that point. A follow-up test thirteen days later on 19 June 2023 returned a Pass, with the oil leak advisory repeated; this suggests the tyre set was replaced and the engine sealing left to monitor, rather than fully rectified. The overall picture is of a car that passed its most recent examination, but only after a prior failure in the same month raised clear concerns about tyre condition and by implication, the state of the wheels, brakes, and steering components that the tyres interact with. Recorded mileage stands at 3,076 miles against an age of approximately sixty-nine years, which equates to a notional annual average of around 45 miles per year. This figure is almost certainly an artefact of the odometer reading rather than a true reflection of use, as a pre-1960 vehicle will have been serviced, restored, and transported many times in its life, and the original mileage cannot be verified from MOT records alone. What the DVSA file does show is that the car has only been presented for testing twice in modern records, both in June 2023, and there is no mileage progression between the two entries, indicating the car was almost certainly trailered or transported between tests rather than driven. Such long stationary periods followed by short bursts of activity are particularly significant on a vehicle of this era, where cork composite gaskets, natural rubber hoses, zinc-plated fasteners, and original brake hydraulic seals can all deteriorate through lack of use as much as through mileage accumulation. For a prospective buyer, the most urgent inspection item is the current tyre set and what it is fitted to. The four exposed-cord Dangerous failures suggest the tyres fitted at the June 2023 test may have been old stock, perished from age rather than worn from use, and any replacement tyres should be checked for DOT date codes and for cracking of the sidewalls, particularly on 165SR15规格 as originally noted on the nearside front. A test drive should include firm braking from around 30 mph to confirm the car pulls straight, as seized wheel cylinders or binding callipers are common on stored classics and will manifest as steering pull or a heavy, uneven pedal. Lift the car if possible and inspect the inner and outer sidewalls of all four tyres, the wire wheels for corrosion at the spoke nipples, and the splines on the knock-off hubs for wear, as these were not independently assessed on the MOT record. The recurring front engine oil leak advisory also warrants close attention on a 100-6, which uses a 2.6-litre straight-six with a timing chain at the front of the block. After a two-year gap since the last recorded test, the buyer should expect to find oil misting or weeping from the front crankshaft seal, timing cover gasket, and the vertical joint between the timing cover and the sump. On a road test, listen for a light rattle on cold start that disappears as oil pressure rises, and watch for blue smoke under hard acceleration. Beyond the flagged items, the absence of any MOT-recorded inspection of the braking system, steering, suspension, or corrosion over this period means a full pre-purchase inspection by a classic car specialist is strongly advised before committing, with particular focus on the chassis outriggers, brake pipes, master cylinder, and the condition of the king pins and trunnions at the front axle.