1987 Talbot Express# — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1987 Talbot Express# passed 64.5% of its 538 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (20.6% fail rate), the 1987 Express# comes out 14.9pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 30.9% of all tests — 11.2 points clear of body, structure & corrosion, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 108 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 20.0% versus 39.3%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 39.8% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 30.9% | 166 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.7% | 106 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.4% | 83 |
| 4 | Suspension | 12.8% | 69 |
| 5 | Visibility | 10.6% | 57 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.5% | 24 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 108 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 104 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 88 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 76 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 50 |
| 6 | Joints | 41 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 39.8% | 214 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 31.6% | 170 |
| 3 | Brakes | 30.7% | 165 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 21.6% | 116 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 20.4% | 110 |
| 6 | Other defects | 18.6% | 100 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 89 | 39.3% |
| 60-90k | 236 | 34.8% |
| 90-120k | 161 | 37.9% |
| 120-150k | 40 | 20.0% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 395 | 36.5% |
| Diesel | 143 | 32.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 131 | 35.1% |
| 2022 | 127 | 34.6% |
| 2023 | 101 | 35.6% |
| 2024 | 99 | 36.4% |
| 2025 | 80 | 36.3% |
What to check before buying a 1987 Express#
On a 1987 Express#, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 30.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (30.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (19.7% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Brakes (15.4% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 1987 Talbot Express#s pass their MOT?
64.5% of the 538 1987 Talbot Express# MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 35.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1987 Talbot Express#?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 30.9% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (19.7%).
Does the 1987 Express# get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 39.3% in the 30-60k band to 20.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 538 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.