Freight Rover Sherpa 310 Diesel (1988)
1988 Freight Rover Sherpa 310 Diesel
CarHunch analysed 204 real MOT records for the 1988 Freight Rover Sherpa 310 Diesel. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
This 1988 Freight Rover Sherpa 310 is in dire condition: just 2.1% pass MOT first time, a catastrophic 78 percentage points below the UK average of 80%. The good news is that dangerous defects are rare (0.5% of vehicles), but the overwhelming majority of these vans will need significant remedial work before they're legal to drive.
At nearly 93,000 miles on average, these are relatively low-mileage survivors for a 35-year-old commercial vehicle, yet they're still failing badly—suggesting age and storage rather than hard use are the real killers. With an average of just 0.07 failures and 0.2 advisories per test, the problem isn't multiple systemic failures but rather widespread decay across basic components like lights, seals, and brake wear. If you're considering one, budget heavily for a full pre-purchase inspection by a diesel specialist and expect to spend thousands on getting it roadworthy.
What to check before buying a 1988 Freight Rover Sherpa 310 Diesel
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Freight Rover Sherpa 310 Diesel
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel (99%) | 202 | 2.2% | 0.07 |
| Petrol (1%) | 2 | 0% | 0 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1988 Freight Rover Sherpa 310 Diesel vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 1988 Freight Rover Sherpa 310 Diesel vehicles fall between 74,738 and 139,793 miles.
MOT History Averages
Found a specific Freight Rover Sherpa 310 Diesel?
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