Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1987 Morgan 4/4?

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 Morgan 4/4?

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 Morgan 4/4?

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.

Is the 1987 Morgan 4/4 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 100 vehicles, the 1987 Morgan 4/4 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 82.5%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1987 Morgan 4/4?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1987 Morgan 4/4 are: Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (44.6% of vehicles), Nearside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (27.7% of vehicles), Nearside Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush (24.6% 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 Morgan 4/4?

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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Morgan 4/4 (1987)

100 real MOT outcomes analysed • 82.5% first-time pass rate

1987 Morgan 4/4

CarHunch analysed 100 real MOT records for the 1987 Morgan 4/4. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

We have limited data for the 1987 Morgan 4/4 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

82.5%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

16%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.35

Over 12.1 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

35k

Middle half: 22k–58k

For context

These stats describe 100 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 100 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Exhaust & emissions 44.6%

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive

Suspension & steering 27.7%

Nearside Front Wheel bearing has slight play · Nearside Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush · Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play · …

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Other issues 17.9%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Oil leak

Lighting 17.4%

Offside Rear fog lamp not working · Rear fog lamp not working · Rear fog lamp tell tale not working

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

Brake wear 15.4%

Brake pedal anti-slip provision missing · Brakes imbalanced across an axle · Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2

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

Wipers & washers 11.3%

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1987.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 100 Morgan 4/4 cars.

Before you buy a 1987 Morgan 4/4

Based on MOT data from 100 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 16% 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

Mileage Distribution

Most 1987 Morgan 4/4 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

34,509

typical

22,447

low mileage

58,164

high mileage

Half of all 1987 Morgan 4/4 vehicles fall between 22,447 and 58,164 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 22,447 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 22,447–58,164 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1987 Morgan 4/4s sit.

⚠ Over 78,521 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1987 Morgan 4/4 — Still on the Road

Most 1987 Morgan 4/4s are still being driven.

39 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 76% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

12.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.35

Avg failures per vehicle

7.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Morgan 4/4: All 4/4 years → Which year to buy? →

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1991 1992 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Or browse all models: Morgan →

Compare with another model

See how the 1987 Morgan 4/4 stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?