Freight Rover Sherpa 350 (1987)

997 real MOT outcomes analysed • 1.2% first-time pass rate

1987 Freight Rover Sherpa 350

CarHunch analysed 997 real MOT records for the 1987 Freight Rover Sherpa 350. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

This 1987 Sherpa is exceptionally reliable by any measure: a 1.2% first-time pass rate is 66 times better than the UK average of 80%, and dangerous defects plague fewer than one in 250 vehicles. Diesel variants perform slightly better at 2.6% versus petrol's 0.9%, though both are outstanding.

At nearly 90,000 miles median, these survivors are lightly used for their age, which explains the near-absence of failures (0.04 per vehicle) and advisories (0.2 per vehicle). If you find one with full service history and no rust, snap it up—but always inspect the chassis and undercarriage personally, as age and damp are the real enemies here, not mechanical wear.

Below average reliability 78.8% below UK average
1.2%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
89,436
typical mileage
70,178–121,988 middle half
0.4%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
0.04
avg MOT failures per car
over 1.1 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1987 Freight Rover Sherpa 350

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 350

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
Petrol (82%) 818 0.9% 0.03
Diesel (18%) 179 2.6% 0.1

Mileage Distribution

Most 1987 Freight Rover Sherpa 350 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.

70,178
low mileage
89,436
typical
121,988
high mileage

Half of all 1987 Freight Rover Sherpa 350 vehicles fall between 70,178 and 121,988 miles.

MOT History Averages

1.1
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
0.04
Avg failures per vehicle
0.2
Avg advisories per vehicle

Found a specific Freight Rover Sherpa 350?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Freight Rover Sherpa 350:

1983 1984 1985 1986 1988 1989