Classic Car Health Checks
Expert insight for informed decisions
We carry out over one hundred comprehensive vehicle health checks every year. Most often for prospective buyers seeking confidence that the classic they’re considering is in sound condition before purchase. Our inspections provide clarity, reassurance, and peace of mind at the point of purchase.
Pre-Sale Vehicle Check
Purchasing a classic is rarely straightforward. However reputable the dealer or familiar the vendor, their role is to maximise the value of their asset, while yours is to buy wisely, with as few hidden issues as possible.
Enthusiasts (ourselves included) are often guilty of being swept up in the romance of the deal rather than assessing it with a cool head. Wherever possible, buy privately or through a dealer rather than at auction. Private sales and dealerships give you time to inspect the car properly - an opportunity auctions deny. Despite the myth, auctions are rarely a cheaper option; once fees are added, costs often match or exceed those of dealers, and there is no recourse if the car is misdescribed.
Most genuine vendors will welcome an independent inspection. We can provide this at our workshop, or you can use our checklist to carry out your own. At the very least, even for MOT-exempt vehicles, we recommend arranging an independent MOT before committing.
COST – £295 + VAT
- Lights checked
- Engine oil level and condition checked
- Engine compression check
- Engine leak down check
- Engine ran up to temperature, check if cooling fans cut in
- Wheels removed, tyres checked for condition, age, tread wear and pressures
- Remove spare tyre and checked for condition, age, tread wear and pressure
- Check wheel hubs/splines for wear and condition
- Check wheel condition, including wheel spokes where wire wheels are fitted
- Check oil breathers
- Inspect brakes for friction material, leaks and function
- Check all driveshaft joints, hubs and ball joints (front and rear)
- Inspect metal brake pipes and flexible pipes for condition/corrosion/leaks
- Check handbrake function
- Underbody corrosion inspection
- Exhaust system inspection, general condition and mounts
- Check gearbox oil for condition and level (suggested change every 5 years)
- Check differential oil for condition and level (suggested change every 5 years)
- Check and top up carburettor dash pots (if SU type fitted)
- Check and replace inline fuel filter
- Check idle/fuel mixture/balance carburettors
- Check air filter(s)
- Check/ spark plugs (suggest change at 2 years)
- Check condition/gap of points/condenser/rotor arm/cap and HT leads
- Check engine timing
- Check drive belt condition and tension
- Inspect coolant pipes & gland hole vent hole under water pump for leakage
- Inspect core plugs for leakage
- Pressure test cooling system
- Check coolant strength (suggested replacement every 2 years)
- Check brake/clutch fluid for level and condition (suggested replacement every 2 years)
- Check windscreen washer fluid, check operation of screen wash jets
- Inspect wiper blade condition and check operation.
- Start engine and check for leaks
- Road test
Heath Check
If your classic has been off the road, or if it’s new to you, our Comprehensive Health Check is the ideal way to understand its true condition. We’ll advise on how best to improve reliability and safety, ensuring your car is ready for regular use.
You’ll receive a detailed traffic light–style report, along with a full parts list and a clear quotation for the labour required on each recommendation. This allows you to prioritise work and invest wisely focusing on the improvements that will truly enhance your ownership experience.
COST – £295 + VAT
- Lights checked
- Engine oil level and condition checked
- Engine compression check
- Engine leak down check
- Engine ran up to temperature, check if electric cooling fans cut in
- Wheels removed, tyres checked for condition, age, tread wear and pressures
- Remove spare tyre and checked for condition, age, tread wear and pressure
- Check wheel hubs/splines for wear and condition
- Check wheel condition, including wheel spokes where wire wheels are fitted
- Check oil breathers
- Inspect brakes for friction material, leaks and function
- Check all driveshaft joints, hubs and ball joints (front and rear)
- Inspect metal brake pipes and flexible pipes for condition/corrosion/leaks
- Check handbrake function
- Underbody corrosion inspection
- Exhaust system inspection, general condition and mounts
- Check gearbox oil for condition and level (suggested change every 5 years)
- Check differential oil for condition and level (suggested change every 5 years)
- Check and top up carburettor dash pots (if SU type fitted)
- Check and replace inline fuel filter
- Check idle/fuel mixture/balance carburettors
- Check air filter(s)
- Check/ spark plugs (suggest change at 2 years)
- Check condition/gap of points/condenser/rotor arm/cap and HT leads
- Check engine timing
- Check drive belt condition and tension
- Inspect coolant pipes & gland hole vent hole under water pump for leakage
- Inspect core plugs for leakage
- Pressure test cooling system
- Check coolant strength (suggested replacement every 2 years)
- Check brake/clutch fluid for level and condition (suggested replacement every 2 years)
- Check windscreen washer fluid, check operation of screen wash jets
- Inspect wiper blade condition and check operation.
- Start engine and check for leaks
- Road test
Basic Safety Check
Our advice is simple: book an MOT. It’s cost-effective, provides the most thorough assessment of your brakes, and maintains an official record of your car’s mileage and condition.
That said, if you’d prefer a quicker check just to confirm fluid levels are correct and nothing is likely to fail in the near future, we can provide that too with very little escaping our trained eyes.
COST – £70 + VAT
- Lights checked
- Tyre condition and pressure
- Check of wheel bearings
- Visual check of suspension bushes
- Visual check of exhaust
- Visual check of drivetrain/axles
- Visual check of brake components (hydraulic and friction)
- Check handbrake is working
- Check clutch is working and gears engage nicely
- Check of all fluid levels and conditions
- Visual check for leaks
- Visual check of body for corrosion and damage
Get Your Car Booked in Today
With a dedicated service team we can provide a rapid response for servicing and MOT’s. Call us or click the button below to contact us and we can have your classic collected and on the ramp in just 24 hours!
CALL – 01869 221 870
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