Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1987 Renault 5 GTS?

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 Renault 5 GTS?

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 Renault 5 GTS?

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 Renault 5 GTS?

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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Renault 5 GTS (1987)

1,812 real MOT outcomes analysed

1987 Renault 5 GTS

CarHunch has 1,812 1987 Renault 5 GTS vehicles on record, but none have light-vehicle MOT history in our data source.

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No MOT data available for this vehicle type

The 1987 Renault 5 GTS 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 Renault vehicles below.

Renault 5 — all years → Best year to buy a 5 → Browse all Renault models →

No MOT data — worth knowing

Got a specific Renault 5 GTS 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.

This cohort has no MOT test data in the DVLA light-vehicle database, so we cannot tell you pass rates, failure rates, or defect patterns for the 1987 Renault 5 GTS. The 1,812 vehicles analysed appear to be registered, but their MOT records either predate systematic electronic logging or fall outside the dataset we can access.

What matters for a buyer: the Renault 5 GTS was a nimble, spartan hot hatch from the 1980s, and any surviving example today will be 37 years old. Ignore the CarHunch score here—it's based on missing data. Instead, have a trusted mechanic inspect the chassis for rust (common in French cars of this era), check the electrics and fuel system, and verify the engine hasn't been thrashed; these cars were affordable fun cars and many were driven hard. If you find one you like, budget for a full restoration rather than expecting a quick MOT pass.

MOT statistics not available

We have 1,812 1987 Renault 5 GTS 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 Renault 5 GTS

Based on MOT data from 1,812 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 10,775 Renault 5 GTS vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Red 27.1%

2,923

Blue 26.8%

2,886

White 13.7%

1,472

Silver 12.9%

1,389

Black 9.6%

1,035

Grey 4.7%

508

Green 3.9%

422

Gold 0.9%

101

Beige 0.2%

Maroon 0.1%

Brown 0%

Purple 0%

Other model years — Renault 5 GTS: All 5 GTS years → Which year to buy? →

1988 1989 1990

Or browse all models: Renault →

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