1981 Chevrolet Gmc Corvette — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1981 perform at MOT as they age

45 years

Current Age

84.8%

Latest Pass Rate

406

Total Tests (All Years)

50,044 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 1981 Chevrolet Gmc Corvette as it ages.

28 yrs80.0%

→ ↓13.3%

29 yrs66.7%

→ ↑1.7%

30 yrs68.4%

→ ↑14.0%

31 yrs82.4%

→ ↓5.5%

32 yrs76.9%

→ ↑0.2%

33 yrs77.1%

→ ↓2.1%

34 yrs75.0%

→ ↑4.1%

35 yrs79.1%

→ ↑1.5%

36 yrs80.6%

→ ↑6.5%

37 yrs87.1%

→ ↓2.3%

38 yrs84.8%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
28 yrs	80.0%	45
29 yrs	66.7%	36
30 yrs	68.4%	38
31 yrs	82.4%	34
32 yrs	76.9%	39
33 yrs	77.1%	35
34 yrs	75.0%	36
35 yrs	79.1%	43
36 yrs	80.6%	36
37 yrs	87.1%	31
38 yrs	84.8%	33

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1981 Chevrolet Gmc Corvette pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2019 (38 yrs)	84.8%	33
2018 (37 yrs)	87.1%	31
2017 (36 yrs)	80.6%	36
2016 (35 yrs)	79.1%	43
2015 (34 yrs)	75%	36
2014 (33 yrs)	77.1%	35
2013 (32 yrs)	76.9%	39
2012 (31 yrs)	82.4%	34
2011 (30 yrs)	68.4%	38
2010 (29 yrs)	66.7%	36
2009 (28 yrs)	80%	45

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

80.0%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 45Avg Mileage 59,440Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 15.6%

2010

66.7%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 36Avg Mileage 61,217Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 19.4%

2011

68.4%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 38Avg Mileage 63,023Top Failure Brakes — 21.1%

2012

82.4%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 34Avg Mileage 54,508Top Failure Brakes — 17.6%

2013

76.9%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 39Avg Mileage 58,074Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 48.7%

2014

77.1%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 35Avg Mileage 51,140Top Failure Brakes — 51.4%

2015

75.0%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 36Avg Mileage 78,854Top Failure Brakes — 25.0%

2016

79.1%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 43Avg Mileage 53,965Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.9%

2017

80.6%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 36Avg Mileage 69,380Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.3%

2018

87.1%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 31Avg Mileage 52,143Top Failure Brakes — 35.5%

2019

84.8%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 33Avg Mileage 50,044Top Failure Brakes — 18.2%

MOT results for 1981 Chevrolet Gmc Corvette by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	28	80.0%	45	59,440	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 15.6%
2010	29	66.7%	36	61,217	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 19.4%
2011	30	68.4%	38	63,023	Brakes — 21.1%
2012	31	82.4%	34	54,508	Brakes — 17.6%
2013	32	76.9%	39	58,074	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 48.7%
2014	33	77.1%	35	51,140	Brakes — 51.4%
2015	34	75.0%	36	78,854	Brakes — 25.0%
2016	35	79.1%	43	53,965	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.9%
2017	36	80.6%	36	69,380	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.3%
2018	37	87.1%	31	52,143	Brakes — 35.5%
2019	38	84.8%	33	50,044	Brakes — 18.2%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1981 Chevrolet Gmc Corvette, with age trends.

Brakes

24.6%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

24.2%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

16.1%

↓ Decreases with age

Steering

15.5%

— Consistent

Driver's View of the Road

12.5%

↓ Decreases 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	11.1% (28 yrs)	18.2% (38 yrs)	+7.1%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Chevrolet Gmc Corvette page →

About This Data

This page shows how Chevrolet Gmc Corvette cars manufactured in 1981 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2019, covering 406 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.