Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1987 Ford Transit 120?

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 Ford Transit 120?

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 Ford Transit 120?

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 Ford Transit 120?

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 Transit 120 (1987)

6,336 real MOT outcomes analysed

1987 Ford Transit 120

CarHunch has 6,336 1987 Ford Transit 120 vehicles on record, but none have light-vehicle MOT history in our data source.

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

No MOT data available for this vehicle type

The 1987 Ford Transit 120 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.

Browse all Ford models →

No MOT data — worth knowing

Got a specific Ford Transit 120 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 Ford Transit 120 does not appear in the DVLA's light-vehicle MOT database because it's classified as a heavy commercial vehicle and tested under the separate DVSA heavy goods vehicle regime instead. This means the low pass rate figure shown here is unreliable and should be disregarded — it reflects incomplete data capture rather than actual vehicle condition.

What matters for a buyer is knowing that the Transit 120 was a workhorse van built for commercial use, and any surviving examples today (6,336 records suggest many remain on the road) will have been heavily used. If you're considering one, have a specialist commercial vehicle engineer inspect it in person, paying close attention to chassis, engine bearings, and brake condition — these are the components that determine whether an old Transit is safe and economical to run, not light-vehicle MOT statistics.

MOT statistics not available

We have 6,336 1987 Ford Transit 120 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 Ford Transit 120

Based on MOT data from 6,336 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 40,452 Ford Transit 120 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 51.6%

20,879

Blue 23%

9,288

Red 11%

4,445

Yellow 6.2%

2,507

Green 2.7%

1,101

Grey 1.9%

763

Orange 1.4%

579

Black 0.9%

374

Multi-colour 0.4%

154

Beige 0.3%

141

Brown 0.3%

127

Not stated 0.2%

Other model years — Ford Transit 120: All Transit 120 years → Which year to buy? →

1983 1984 1985 1986 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992

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Compare with another model

See how the 1987 Ford Transit 120 stacks up against a rival.