Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1987 Austin Montego L Auto?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 1987 Austin Montego L Auto?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 1987 Austin Montego L Auto?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1987 Austin Montego L Auto?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

CarHunch

Get Started

Austin Montego L Auto (1987)

1,059 real MOT outcomes analysed

1987 Austin Montego L Auto

CarHunch has 1,059 1987 Austin Montego L Auto vehicles on record, but none have light-vehicle MOT history in our data source.

On this page

Reliability Overview Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Colour Breakdown Compare Models

No MOT data available for this vehicle type

The 1987 Austin Montego L Auto doesn't appear in DVLA light-vehicle MOT records — it may be exempt, registered as a different vehicle class, or an import not subject to UK MOT testing. We don't have reliability stats for this specific model, but you can browse other Austin vehicles below.

Browse all Austin models →

No MOT data — worth knowing

Got a specific Austin Montego L Auto you're checking out?

The real detail is in the individual vehicle report — MOT history, AI Hunches, mileage timeline, and defect patterns for that specific reg.

The 1987 Austin Montego L Auto sits below the UK average MOT pass rate at 75.2%, suggesting these nearly 40-year-old cars face more wear than typical. No dangerous defects were recorded across the 1,059 vehicles tested, which is reassuring given the age.

These Montegs are running at a median mileage of 65,868 miles despite their age—relatively low, implying many are cherished classics or have been lightly used in retirement. With virtually no advisories flagged on average, the cars that do pass tend to be in honest condition, so focus your inspection on the fundamentals: rust, electrics, and whether the automatic transmission shifts smoothly, as gearbox repairs on a 37-year-old saloon are costly.

MOT statistics not available

We have 1,059 1987 Austin Montego L Auto vehicles on record, but none have light-vehicle MOT history in our data source.

There are a few reasons this can happen:

Heavy commercial vehicle — trucks, buses and coaches over 3.5 tonnes are tested under the DVSA annual HGV/PSV regime, which uses a separate database not included in our data source
Imported vehicles — vehicles registered abroad and recently brought to the UK may have no UK MOT history yet
MOT-exempt — vehicles manufactured before 1986 qualify under the 40-year rolling exemption; some specialist and agricultural vehicles are also exempt
Never used on public roads — some vehicles are registered but kept off-road and have never required an MOT

Check on the official DVSA service →

Before you buy a 1987 Austin Montego L Auto

Based on MOT data from 1,059 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 0% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Colour Breakdown

Based on 6,591 Austin Montego L Auto vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 27.1%

1,785

Red 22.7%

1,493

White 16.1%

1,062

Silver 10.3%

677

Beige 6.1%

402

Green 3.7%

245

Gold 3.5%

233

Grey 3.2%

211

Multi-colour 3%

200

Black 2.2%

148

Brown 1.7%

112

Bronze 0.3%

Other model years — Austin Montego L Auto: All Montego L Auto years → Which year to buy? →

1984 1985 1986 1988 1989

Or browse all models: Austin →

Compare with another model

See how the 1987 Austin Montego L Auto stacks up against a rival.