Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1981 Colt Lancer 1400 Glx?

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 1981 Colt Lancer 1400 Glx?

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 1981 Colt Lancer 1400 Glx?

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 1981 Colt Lancer 1400 Glx?

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.

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Colt Lancer 1400 Glx (1981)

844 real MOT outcomes analysed

1981 Colt Lancer 1400 Glx

CarHunch has 844 1981 Colt Lancer 1400 Glx vehicles on record, but none have light-vehicle MOT history in our data source.

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No MOT data available for this vehicle type

The 1981 Colt Lancer 1400 Glx 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 Colt vehicles below.

Colt Lancer — all years → Best year to buy a Lancer → Browse all Colt models →

No MOT data — worth knowing

Got a specific Colt Lancer 1400 Glx 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 1981 Colt Lancer 1400 GLX is too old to appear in the DVLA's light-vehicle MOT database — vehicles from this era either haven't been tested recently or have been deregistered — so there are no pass rates, failure patterns, or defect statistics available to analyse. What we do know is that 844 vehicles of this model were once registered, which tells you they existed in reasonable numbers, but any Lancer you find today is a classic or restoration project rather than an everyday used car. If you're considering one, rely on specialist pre-purchase inspection rather than MOT history, and expect mechanical work to be based on parts availability and finding knowledgeable mechanics rather than modern roadside support. Treat it as a piece of 1980s motoring history: charming and fun to own, but not a low-maintenance proposition.

MOT statistics not available

We have 844 1981 Colt Lancer 1400 Glx 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 1981 Colt Lancer 1400 Glx

Based on MOT data from 844 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 2,483 Colt Lancer 1400 Glx vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Brown 26.6%

661

Silver 26.4%

655

Blue 18.4%

458

White 9.4%

233

Orange 6.1%

152

Red 5.1%

127

Beige 4.1%

102

Grey 1.4%

Gold 1%

Green 0.7%

Black 0.4%

Cream 0.4%

Other model years — Colt Lancer 1400 Glx: All Lancer 1400 Glx years → Which year to buy? →

1980 1982

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