Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1988 Ford Granada Gl?

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 1988 Ford Granada Gl?

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 1988 Ford Granada Gl?

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 1988 Ford Granada Gl?

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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Ford Granada Gl (1988)

2,588 real MOT outcomes analysed

1988 Ford Granada Gl

CarHunch has 2,588 1988 Ford Granada Gl 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 1988 Ford Granada Gl 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 Ford vehicles below.

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No MOT data — worth knowing

Got a specific Ford Granada Gl 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 1988 Ford Granada GL does not appear in the DVLA's light-vehicle MOT database, so we have no pass rates, failure statistics, or defect data to analyse—this cohort either predates systematic MOT record-keeping or has been too thoroughly retired from UK roads to generate reliable statistics. What we do know is that 2,588 vehicles matching this description exist or existed in records, almost all petrol-powered, and they carry a median CarHunch reliability score of 50, suggesting mixed condition across the surviving population.

The Granada GL was a mid-range saloon from the 1980s, typically used as an everyday family car, and any surviving examples today are 36 years old and highly likely to be in hobby or collector hands rather than regular use. If you're considering one, skip MOT data and instead get a pre-purchase inspection from a classic or heritage mechanic who understands 1980s Ford engineering—that will tell you far more than national statistics ever could.

MOT statistics not available

We have 2,588 1988 Ford Granada Gl 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 1988 Ford Granada Gl

Based on MOT data from 2,588 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 36,987 Ford Granada Gl vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 22.9%

8,477

Red 16.7%

6,194

White 15.1%

5,601

Gold 13.2%

4,883

Silver 9.9%

3,650

Green 7.3%

2,684

Grey 5%

1,865

Black 3.7%

1,356

Beige 2.3%

854

Cream 1.6%

576

Brown 1.2%

439

Bronze 1.1%

408

Other model years — Ford Granada Gl: All Granada Gl years → Which year to buy? →

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Compare with another model

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