1978 Alfa Romeo Spider — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1978 perform at MOT as they age

48 years

Current Age

65.8%

Latest Pass Rate

343

Total Tests (All Years)

53,469 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1978 Alfa Romeo Spider as it ages.

31 yrs60.0%

→ ↓2.9%

32 yrs57.1%

→ ↑0.5%

33 yrs57.6%

→ ↑3.5%

34 yrs61.1%

→ ↓8.7%

35 yrs52.4%

→ ↑5.9%

36 yrs58.3%

→ ↑9.9%

37 yrs68.2%

→ ↑1.0%

38 yrs69.2%

→ ↓3.4%

39 yrs65.8%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
31 yrs	60.0%	40
32 yrs	57.1%	35
33 yrs	57.6%	33
34 yrs	61.1%	36
35 yrs	52.4%	42
36 yrs	58.3%	36
37 yrs	68.2%	44
38 yrs	69.2%	39
39 yrs	65.8%	38

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1978 Alfa Romeo Spider pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2017 (39 yrs)	65.8%	38
2016 (38 yrs)	69.2%	39
2015 (37 yrs)	68.2%	44
2014 (36 yrs)	58.3%	36
2013 (35 yrs)	52.4%	42
2012 (34 yrs)	61.1%	36
2011 (33 yrs)	57.6%	33
2010 (32 yrs)	57.1%	35
2009 (31 yrs)	60%	40

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

60.0%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 40Avg Mileage 60,549Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.0%

2010High Fail Rate

57.1%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 35Avg Mileage 59,679Top Failure Brakes — 25.7%

2011High Fail Rate

57.6%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 33Avg Mileage 50,613Top Failure Brakes — 27.3%

2012High Fail Rate

61.1%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 36Avg Mileage 54,744Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.2%

2013High Fail Rate

52.4%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 42Avg Mileage 51,338Top Failure Suspension — 52.4%

2014High Fail Rate

58.3%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 36Avg Mileage 53,546Top Failure Suspension — 50.0%

2015

68.2%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 44Avg Mileage 47,166Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 40.9%

2016

69.2%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 39Avg Mileage 47,524Top Failure Suspension — 46.2%

2017

65.8%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 38Avg Mileage 53,469Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.6%

MOT results for 1978 Alfa Romeo Spider by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	31	60.0%	40	60,549	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.0%
2010	32	57.1%	35	59,679	Brakes — 25.7%
2011	33	57.6%	33	50,613	Brakes — 27.3%
2012	34	61.1%	36	54,744	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.2%
2013	35	52.4%	42	51,338	Suspension — 52.4%
2014	36	58.3%	36	53,546	Suspension — 50.0%
2015	37	68.2%	44	47,166	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 40.9%
2016	38	69.2%	39	47,524	Suspension — 46.2%
2017	39	65.8%	38	53,469	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.6%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1978 Alfa Romeo Spider, with age trends.

Suspension

32.6%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

31.6%

— Consistent

Brakes

24.2%

↑ Increases with age

Driver's View of the Road

21.7%

↑ Increases with age

Steering

19.2%

↑ Increases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	22.5% (31 yrs)	31.6% (39 yrs)	+9.1%	🔴 ↑
Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions	15.0% (31 yrs)	21.1% (39 yrs)	+6.1%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	27.5% (31 yrs)	31.6% (39 yrs)	+4.1%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	30.0% (31 yrs)	31.6% (39 yrs)	+1.6%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Alfa Romeo Spider page →

About This Data

This page shows how Alfa Romeo Spider cars manufactured in 1978 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2017, covering 343 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.