The most recent DVSA examination dated 10 February 2012 resulted in a pass, although two advisories were issued alongside a user-entered note regarding the offside front seat belt retraction. The advisories relate to slight play in the nearside rear wheel bearing and slight play in an offside front lower suspension ball joint, both of which were first flagged in the 2011 test, indicating that these wear items have persisted across consecutive examinations rather than being rectified. Looking at the broader history, the vehicle passed cleanly in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009, then suffered a structural corrosion failure on the nearside rear subframe mounting in February 2010 before being repaired and re-presented three days later with a pass. The reappearance of the same advisories in 2012 after rectification of a serious structural defect suggests that routine maintenance has been addressed in isolation but ongoing wear items are accumulating, giving a maintenance trend that is best described as indifferent rather than actively worsening.
With recorded mileage of 100,241 miles spread across approximately 56 years, this Triumph 2.5 PI has covered only around 1,790 miles annually, which is exceptionally low usage for any motor vehicle and indicative of long standing periods interspersed with occasional use. Such low mileage is not necessarily beneficial on a car of this vintage, as prolonged standing commonly leads to corrosion of brake discs and drums, seizure of caliper and handbrake mechanism pistons, drying and cracking of rubber components throughout the suspension and drivetrain, and degradation of the fuel system including the carburettor and fuel lines. The recorded MOT history itself shows no mileage entries, which is typical for pre-computerised vehicles of this era, but the low annual usage figure should be treated as a prompt to inspect thoroughly for the consequences of inactivity rather than as evidence of low wear overall.
Given the advisories on record, a prospective buyer should prioritise inspection of the nearside rear wheel bearing for any rumble or noise change when cornering or during laden driving, and should jack the vehicle to check for lateral play in the hub. The offside front lower suspension ball joint should be examined for perished gaiters, grease loss, and vertical or rotational play with the wheel lifted, while a road test should listen for clonking or knocking over uneven surfaces and check for uneven inner or outer tyre wear that would betray the joint. The previous subframe corrosion failure warrants a careful examination of the nearside rear chassis leg, mounting area, and surrounding floor pan for any subsequent rust repair quality, underseal coverage, and signs of returning corrosion around the rear quarter and sill areas, as the user-entered notes from 2010 and 2011 already flagged slight corrosion to the offside floor and boot floor.
Beyond the recorded items, a buyer of a 56-year-old vehicle with such low annual mileage should carry out a number of age-related inspections irrespective of the MOT record. Tyres should be checked for sidewall perishing and cracking from age even if tread depth appears acceptable, and the spare should be examined likewise. The 12-volt battery is almost certainly due for replacement and should be load tested, while all fluid services including engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, and differential oil should be assumed overdue given calendar age and treated as immediate priorities. Brake calipers and the rear handbrake mechanism should be freed off and inspected for binding, the exhaust examined for corrosion and blowing joints, and the cooling system checked for perished hoses given the Triumph's known susceptibility to overheating. Finally, verifying a continuous service history with evidence of regular recommissioning work after periods of standing will be more informative than the MOT record alone for assessing the true mechanical condition of this vehicle.