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Talbot Alpine Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Talbot Alpine car check

Is the Talbot Alpine reliable? We analysed 1,647 real MOT tests across 236 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,647 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
80.6%
Typical Mileage
55,620mi
Annual Mileage
394mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
64yrs

The Talbot Alpine is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Talbot Alpine.

Talbot Alpine Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Talbot Alpine. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Talbot Alpine MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Talbot Alpine to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

65.5%
1985
75.5%
1984
81.5%
1983
82.5%
1980
80.5%
1968
78.8%
1967
85.1%
1966
79.4%
1965
83.5%
1964
84.1%
1963
86.8%
1962

Talbot Alpine Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Talbot Alpine fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 46
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 30
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 27
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 27
brake binding 26
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 23
Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 22
Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings 21
Stop lamp not working 21
brake recording little or no effort 21

Talbot Alpine Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Talbot Alpine owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
108 mi/yr
Typical
394 mi/yr
Average
1,202 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,020 mi/yr

Talbot Alpine MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Talbot Alpine year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1985 84 65.5% 49,451 83,497 110,090
1984 110 75.5% 45,414 56,186 64,923
1983 65 81.5% 57,136 76,133 87,416
1980 57 82.5% 15,239 31,272 46,299
1968 164 80.5% 36,843 63,602 86,978
1967 269 78.8% 22,989 59,934 76,608
1966 195 85.1% 26,363 45,179 60,420
1965 63 79.4% 36,400 70,009 71,206
1964 97 83.5% 22,525 47,648 73,893
1963 157 84.1% 21,040 47,238 78,527
1962 68 86.8% 9,107 38,970 57,575

How Long Does a Talbot Alpine Last?

Based on 236 Talbot Alpine vehicles on UK roads.

Average
45.0 years
Median
50.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
64 years

Talbot Alpine Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Talbot Alpine MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
55,620 mi
75th Percentile
75,757 mi
95th Percentile
96,340 mi
Max Recorded
170,095 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Talbot Alpine

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
1962

86.8% MOT pass rate from 68 tests

Year to avoid
1985

65.5% MOT pass rate from 84 tests

The best year to buy a used Talbot Alpine is 1962, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 86.8% across 68 tests. The 1985 model year has the lowest pass rate at 65.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Talbot Alpine Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Talbot Alpine THIS CAR 80.6% 1,647 55,620 mi 64 yrs
Talbot Express 65.4% 171,025 71,000 mi 41 yrs
Talbot Express 1300 D 67.8% 18,667 70,636 mi 38 yrs
Talbot Express 1300 P 67% 17,936 63,256 mi 38 yrs
Vauxhall Astra Envoy DTI 73.8% 753 151,937 mi — yrs

Compared to the Talbot Express (65.4% pass rate) and the Talbot Express 1300 D (67.8% pass rate), the Talbot Alpine outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Talbot Alpine?

The Talbot Alpine has an overall MOT pass rate of 80.6% across 1,647 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Talbot Alpine are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (46 recorded failures), windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (30), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (27). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Talbot Alpine owner drives around 394 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Talbot Alpine models stay on UK roads for around 64 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Talbot Alpine — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Talbot Alpine reliable?
Based on 1,647 MOT tests, the Talbot Alpine has a 80.6% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Talbot Alpine?
The most common MOT failures are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Talbot Alpine do per year?
The typical Talbot Alpine does around 394 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Talbot Alpine last?
Most Talbot Alpine models stay on UK roads for around 64 years based on our analysis of 236 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Talbot Alpine?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Talbot Alpine?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Talbot Alpine is 1962 with a 86.8% pass rate across 68 tests.