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1971 Austin Healey Sprite — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1971 perform at MOT as they age

55 years
Current Age
75.0%
Latest Pass Rate
230
Total Tests (All Years)
49,696 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 1971 Austin Healey Sprite as it ages.

38 yrs74.2%
41 yrs73.3%
42 yrs82.4%
43 yrs74.2%
44 yrs67.6%
45 yrs68.6%
46 yrs75.0%

Bar chart showing pass rate by car age from 38 to 46 years

Fail Rate %
📊 View as table
AgePass RateTests
38 yrs74.2%31
41 yrs73.3%30
42 yrs82.4%34
43 yrs74.2%31
44 yrs67.6%37
45 yrs68.6%35
46 yrs75.0%32

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1971 Austin Healey Sprite pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

Trend shows improving over 7 years

Pass Rate %
📊 View as table
BuiltPass RateTests
2017 (46 yrs)75%32
2016 (45 yrs)68.6%35
2015 (44 yrs)67.6%37
2014 (43 yrs)74.2%31
2013 (42 yrs)82.4%34
2012 (41 yrs)73.3%30
2009 (38 yrs)74.2%31

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009
74.2%
Age (yrs) 38Tests 31Avg Mileage 43,329Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 12.9%
2012
73.3%
Age (yrs) 41Tests 30Avg Mileage 39,006Top Failure Suspension — 10.0%
2013
82.4%
Age (yrs) 42Tests 34Avg Mileage 45,852Top Failure Brakes — 20.6%
2014
74.2%
Age (yrs) 43Tests 31Avg Mileage 46,623Top Failure Brakes — 29.0%
2015
67.6%
Age (yrs) 44Tests 37Avg Mileage 39,350Top Failure Brakes — 56.8%
2016
68.6%
Age (yrs) 45Tests 35Avg Mileage 39,363Top Failure Suspension — 74.3%
2017
75.0%
Age (yrs) 46Tests 32Avg Mileage 49,696Top Failure Brakes — 28.1%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1971 Austin Healey Sprite, with age trends.

Brakes
31.0%
↑ Increases with age
Non-component advisories
22.9%
— Consistent
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment
22.8%
↑ Increases with age
Suspension
22.8%
↑ Increases with age
Tyres
16.2%
— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

CategoryAt YoungestAt OldestChangeTrend
Brakes9.7% (38 yrs)28.1% (46 yrs)
+18.4%
🔴 ↑
Suspension6.5% (38 yrs)15.6% (46 yrs)
+9.1%
🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment12.9% (38 yrs)18.8% (46 yrs)
+5.9%
🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Austin Healey Sprite page →

About This Data

This page shows how Austin Healey Sprite cars manufactured in 1971 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2017, covering 230 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.

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