Here is my 1850 HL. I have had it about 10 years. It had 8 months MOT when I bought it, but I soon realised it was a rusty heap and should never have had an MOT in the previous 5 years. After the MOT ran out I got really hacked off with it, I did loads of work but each job seemed to lead to another:
Welded up the sills,
Welded up the rear wheel arches,
Reconditioned the water pump,
Fitted a new head gasket,
Replaced the gearbox as it would jump out of first gear,
Fitted new steering rack mount bushes,
Fitted new upper and lower steering column UJ's.
Replaced all the shocks with new ones.
Fitted electronic ignition.
Replaced the rotting exhaust with a stainless one.
I shoved it in the garage and bought myself an MX5. Then this year I decided I needed the garage space to sort out the MX, so I got it out and did the following for the MOT between Feb and July of this year:
Replaced all the brake pipes with new copper brake pipes.
Replaced the Master cylinder and front caliper brake seals.
Welded up a hole I'd missed in the rear wheel arch.
Cleaned the carbs from gummy old petrol and crud.
Rebuilt both front upper suspension ball joints.
Replaced both track-rod end ball joints.
It is now on the road and just beginning to start giving a bit back in return for the work I have done.