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C981 HCA

1985 Land Rover Defender

Blue Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires27 Apr 2026
Tests10 (7 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate70%

Mileage

147,541 mi
Last recorded147,541 miles
Recorded on28 Apr 2025
Typical for 1985 Land Rover Defender122,807 mi

Above average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Land Rover
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationC981 HCA
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1985
ColourBlue
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine2,495cc

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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

7 pass 3 fail
Pass 28 Apr 2025 147,541 miles

Front Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

steering box slight oil leak

Fail 24 Apr 2025 147,541 miles

Nearside Front Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced chassis (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Front Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

steering box slight oil leak

Pass 26 Apr 2024 144,704 miles
Fail 26 Apr 2024 144,704 miles

Nearside Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Pass 28 Apr 2023 142,120 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material all underside brake pipes covered in underseal and other material (1.1.11 (c))

Front Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view glass scratched on n/s (3.2 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Upper Front passenger door hinge deteriorated but the door can still be readily opened and closed bolt missing (6.2.3 (c) (i))

Nearside Front headlamp slightly loose

Offside Front footwell corrosion

Offside Obligatory mirror slightly loose (3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Lower Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive spring mount quite corroded where attached to axle (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated fulcrum dust cover covered in underseal but quite cracked and perished where visable (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Rear tailgate hinges worn out but still secures in closed position

chassis and underbody covered in thick underbody seal.

hazards faulty (pre 1/4/86)

Pass 26 Nov 2009 129,037 miles

Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 26 Nov 2008 128,475 miles
Fail 26 Nov 2008 128,475 miles

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Headlamp does not operate immediately when selected on main beam (1.7.4a)

Pass 29 Aug 2007 125,710 miles

auxhilary belt has age cracks

Nearside Inner Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Inner Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

o/s/f tyre cut in side wall not exposing cords

Pass 20 Aug 2007 125,638 miles

How Reliable is the Land Rover Defender?

Based on 2,960,045 MOT tests across 181,953 vehicles.

72.3%
Pass Rate
3,550
Miles/Year
43
Year Lifespan
181,953
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush 77,499
Brake pipe excessively corroded 77,229
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 57,749
position lamp(s) not working 53,914
Stop lamp not working 52,341
Full Land Rover Defender reliability report

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C981 HCA is a 1985 Land Rover Defender in Blue with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 10 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 70%.

Across all 1985 Land Rover Defender models, the average MOT pass rate is 69.3% with a typical mileage of 122,807 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Land Rover Defender fails its MOT is shock absorber has an excessively worn bush, accounting for 77,499 recorded failures. If you're considering buying C981 HCA, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Land Rover Defender typically stays on UK roads for around 43 years. At 41 years old, this Land Rover Defender is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of C981 HCA?

You can check the full history of C981 HCA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was C981 HCA registered?

C981 HCA is a 1985 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 10 October 1985.

Is C981 HCA safe to buy?

The MOT history for C981 HCA shows 10 tests with a 70% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does C981 HCA 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 C981 HCA. 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.