Dellow Buying Guide

A Dellow needs its Mark and chassis type established before you can judge it. Confirm the offered Dellow matches its paperwork, then book an inspection that covers its construction and fitted equipment.

I used Dellow Register company history and Dellow Register about page when preparing this November 7, 2026 guide. Those sources describe the model and its known weak spots, not every surviving chassis. So, the checks below turn that background into questions for a seller and a workshop; they do not assign a failure rate or current market value.

Identify the Mark and the chassis type

A Dellow needs its Mark and chassis type established before you can judge it. The Dellow Register explains that early cars were rebuilds on Austin 7 chassis with Ford running gear, while production from 1950 used Dellow’s own chassis made from reclaimed chrome-molybdenum tubing. It also lists the MkII, the four-seat MkIII and the coil-sprung MkV. Ask the seller which Mark the car is and send the chassis details to the register, which has located more than three quarters of the cars made. An unregistered car is not automatically wrong, but its story needs checking.

Inspect a trials car for competition wear

Dellows were built for trials and many still compete, so expect hard use. The register describes members running cars in MCC classic trials, hill climbs and autotests. Ask the inspector to examine the tubular chassis for cracks, bent sections and repairs, and to look closely at spring mounts and axle locations. Check the aluminium body for dents and corrosion where it meets steel. Ask for a list of events the car has done recently. A car that competes regularly can be well kept, but every repair should be visible and explained.

Plan servicing around the Ford side-valve basis

Most Dellows use Ford side-valve engines and running gear, which helps with mechanical parts. The register notes that later cars used the Ford 100E engine, so confirm what is fitted before ordering anything. Have a mechanic check cooling, oil pressure and the condition of the Ford axles and brakes. Ask the register which body and chassis parts are hard to find. The Dellow Register says it can help with service, repair and restoration advice, so ask before you buy rather than after the car arrives.

Put the identity and import file beside the inspection

The physical chassis identifier must agree with the sale documents before a report is ordered. Use our VIN identity checks to organise that comparison and our imported-car report guide to understand why foreign history may be thin. Ask for original registration, import and ownership papers as applicable. NMVTIS offers a U.S. title-history route with defined coverage; it does not certify a bespoke build or replace foreign records. A fake PDF can disguise an ownership gap, so verify evidence through the issuing source rather than accepting a seller screenshot.

Agree the specialist work before leaving a deposit

Tell the shop which version and components it will see, then agree lift access, a controlled road test and a written description of limitations. Our pre-purchase inspection checklist helps frame the appointment, while NYC used-car guidance recommends an independent mechanic. Ask the specialist to separate immediate safety work from cosmetic preferences and optional upgrades. Look, a repair estimate is useful only if a supplier will actually provide the required part. Have the shop obtain a response for any known missing item.

Keep the offer conditional on the findings you care about. Put any seller repair promise in the purchase agreement. If the workshop cannot establish structural condition or a route to a needed safety part, defer the deal rather than inventing a discount. The final decision should reflect the documented car and your intended use, not a figure copied from a launch story.

Write down what the viewing showed

Keep a dated note of what you saw on the Dellow: chassis identifiers, warning lights, fluid leaks under the car, tyre dates, panel gaps and any part the seller could not show. Photograph each item. Send that list to the specialist before the appointment so the inspection starts from facts, not from the advert. If the seller will not allow photographs or lift access, ask why before you go further. A rare car rewards slow, written checks more than a quick decision made because another buyer might appear. If the seller pushes for a quick deposit, offer a refundable one tied to the inspection date, and put that condition in writing before any money moves.

We are a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck or Experian. Wholesale reports cost a few dollars; confirm current coverage and the total at checkout. A quiet report can miss unreported repairs. Keep the independent inspection even if the seller sends an impressive PDF.

Sources

• Dellow Register company history
• Dellow Register about page
• U.S. DOJ NMVTIS
• NYC used-car buying guidance