General description

The body is of welded steel construction available in 3 or 5-door Hatchback, 3 or 5- door Estate, soft-top Cabriolet, or Van configurations.

The body is of monocoque construction and is of energy-absorbing design.

Rust and corrosion protection is applied to all new vehicles and includes zinc phosphate dipping and wax injection of box sections and door interiors.

All body panels are welded, including the front wings, so it is recommended that major body damage repairs are left to your dealer.

    See also:

    Pressure regulating valve (Saloon and Estate models) - removal and refitting
    1 The brake pressure regulating valve is located within the engine compartment, just above the aperture in the wing inner panel through which the steering tie-rod passes. On pre-1986 models the va ...

    Handbrake lever - removal and refitting
    Removal 1 Chock the front wheels, raise and support the vehicle at the rear using stands (see “Jacking and Vehicle Support”) then release the handbrake. 2 Working underneath, extract the spring c ...

    Load apportioning valve P100 models) - removal and refitting
    Caution: Refer to the precautions in Section 1. Removal 1 Chock the front wheels, jack up the rear of the vehicle and support on axle stands (see “Jacking and Vehicle Support”). 2 The load appor ...