CarVerify

Free Car Check

C278 FAR

1985 Austin Mini Mayfair Auto

Silver Petrol 998cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires28 Jul 2026
Tests19 (13 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate68.4%

Mileage

28,522 mi
Last recorded28,522 miles
Recorded on29 Jul 2025
Typical for 1985 Austin Mini Mayfair Auto36,920 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Austin
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationC278 FAR
MakeAustin
ModelMini Mayfair Auto
Year1985
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine998cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

13 pass 6 fail
Pass 29 Jul 2025 28,522 miles

Front oil leak

Fail 24 Jul 2025 28,519 miles

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Rear Registration plate lamp does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamps (4.7.2 (a))

Front oil leak

Pass 18 Jul 2022 28,473 miles
Fail 15 Jul 2022 28,472 miles

Nearside Front Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 23 Jun 2021 28,015 miles
Pass 18 Jun 2020 27,003 miles
Pass 13 Aug 2014 25,984 miles

Oil leak

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Fail 24 Jul 2014 25,958 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

Nearside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Pass 6 Aug 2013 25,487 miles
Pass 25 Jul 2012 25,384 miles
Pass 28 Jul 2011 25,333 miles
Pass 30 Jul 2010 25,241 miles
Pass 24 Jul 2009 25,186 miles
Fail 22 Jul 2009 25,186 miles

Offside Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

Pass 21 Jul 2008 25,099 miles
Pass 16 Jul 2007 25,028 miles
Fail 16 Jul 2007 25,028 miles

Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

Nearside Front Tie bar/rod rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Shock absorber has slight corrosion to the casing (2.7.2a)

Pass 20 Jul 2006 24,766 miles

Nearside Front Tie bar/rod rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Radius arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Shock absorber has slight corrosion to the casing (2.7.2a)

Offside Radius arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Steering rack gaiter deteriorated (2.2.D.2d)

oil leak

Fail 19 Jul 2006 24,751 miles

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Nearside Front Tie bar/rod rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Radius arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Shock absorber has slight corrosion to the casing (2.7.2a)

Offside Radius arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Steering rack gaiter deteriorated (2.2.D.2d)

oil leak

How Reliable is the Austin Mini Mayfair Auto?

Based on 8,014 MOT tests across 937 vehicles.

64.7%
Pass Rate
545
Miles/Year
44
Year Lifespan
937
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 613
Steering rack gaiter split 578
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive 445
fog lamp not working 421
brake recording little or no effort 334
Full Austin Mini Mayfair Auto reliability report

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

C278 FAR is a 1985 Austin Mini Mayfair Auto in Silver with a 998cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 19 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 68.4%.

Across all 1985 Austin Mini Mayfair Auto models, the average MOT pass rate is 64.6% with a typical mileage of 36,920 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Austin Mini Mayfair Auto fails its MOT is subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, accounting for 613 recorded failures. If you're considering buying C278 FAR, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Austin Mini Mayfair Auto typically stays on UK roads for around 44 years. At 41 years old, this Austin Mini Mayfair Auto is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of C278 FAR?

You can check the full history of C278 FAR by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was C278 FAR registered?

C278 FAR is a 1985 Austin Mini Mayfair Auto, first registered on 6 August 1985.

Is C278 FAR safe to buy?

The MOT history for C278 FAR shows 19 tests with a 68.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does C278 FAR have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on C278 FAR. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.