Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1987 Ford Transit 160?

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 160?

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 160?

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 160?

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 160 (1987)

1,506 real MOT outcomes analysed

1987 Ford Transit 160

CarHunch has 1,506 1987 Ford Transit 160 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 160 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 160 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 160 doesn't appear in the light-vehicle MOT database because it's classified as a heavy commercial vehicle and tested under the separate DVSA regime, not the standard DVLA system. This means we can't draw on MOT pass rates or defect statistics to assess reliability, even though 1,506 examples have been registered.

What we do know is that these vans were workhorse utility vehicles built to tough specifications, and any 1987 Transit you find today will be nearly 40 years old. If you're considering one, get a thorough pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic familiar with commercial vehicles—MOT data won't help you here, so hands-on assessment of the engine, chassis, and any rust or welding work is essential.

MOT statistics not available

We have 1,506 1987 Ford Transit 160 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 160

Based on MOT data from 1,506 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 9,391 Ford Transit 160 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 60.9%

5,717

Blue 18.8%

1,764

Red 6.2%

581

Yellow 5.9%

557

Green 3.8%

359

Grey 1.6%

147

Orange 0.9%

Black 0.7%

Beige 0.4%

Cream 0.3%

Silver 0.3%

Brown 0.2%

Other model years — Ford Transit 160: All Transit 160 years → Which year to buy? →

1983 1984 1985 1986 1988 1989 1990 1991

Or browse all models: Ford →

Compare with another model

See how the 1987 Ford Transit 160 stacks up against a rival.