On the Mk1 and Mk2, rust is the number-one thing to check — these cars are 35–45 years old and rot in predictable places.
Where they rust:
- Front and rear screen surrounds — trapped debris under the trim; expensive to fix properly.
- Wheel arches, sills and jacking points — structural.
- Front strut towers / suspension mounts — critical; inspect from inside the bay and the arch.
- Floorpans, boot floor and spare well.
- Sunroof drains blocking and rotting the roof channel and headlining area.
- Rear beam mounts.
Buying check:
- Get it on a ramp. Poke the sills, jacking points and strut towers. Surface rust is manageable; structural rot in the towers or sills is a project.
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