goodpoint graham ...
my granda ran an old S plate(as in **** XES format) landy for YEARS - up till about 98/98
used to get stopped ALL the time - it smoked and it was rusty but ALWAYS passed its mot - nothing dodgy going on either.
The only thing they ever picked him up on was an "unsecure" load in his trailer - it was tied down but the lawnmower could roll about 3 inches forwards and back ....