Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1987 Lada 1500?

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 Lada 1500?

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 Lada 1500?

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.

What are common problems with the 1987 Lada 1500?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1987 Lada 1500 are: Exhaust emits blue smoke during acceleration (75% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Perishing. (50% of vehicles), Nearside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (50% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1987 Lada 1500?

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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Lada 1500 (1987)

351 real MOT outcomes analysed

1987 Lada 1500

CarHunch has 351 1987 Lada 1500 vehicles on record, but none have light-vehicle MOT history in our data source.

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

Moderate sample. 351 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

No MOT data available for this vehicle type

The 1987 Lada 1500 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 Lada vehicles below.

Browse all Lada models →

No MOT data — worth knowing

Got a specific Lada 1500 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.

MOT statistics not available

We have 351 1987 Lada 1500 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 →

What tends to go wrong

Across 351 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Exhaust & emissions 75%

Exhaust emits blue smoke during acceleration

Tyre wear 50%

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Perishing. · Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Perishing & cracking. · Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Perishing.

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 50%

Nearside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Offside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Lighting 50%

Rear fog lamp switch not operating in accordance with the requirements · Nearside Front Position lamp not working

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Other issues 50%

Horn sound not in accordance with requirements · Clutch reservoir empty. · Centre Front Horn not working

Wipers & washers 25%

Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1987.

Before you buy a 1987 Lada 1500

Based on MOT data from 351 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 0.3% 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 14,844 Lada 1500 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 17.2%

2,558

Orange 15.8%

2,338

Yellow 14.8%

2,197

Red 14.2%

2,105

Blue 13.8%

2,046

Green 9.4%

1,400

Cream 7.4%

1,098

Brown 5.7%

842

Beige 0.8%

115

Black 0.5%

Gold 0.3%

Maroon 0.1%

Other model years — Lada 1500: All 1500 years → Which year to buy? →

1980 1981 1986

Or browse all models: Lada →

Compare with another model

See how the 1987 Lada 1500 stacks up against a rival.