1969 Lotus Elan — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1969 perform at MOT as they age

57 years

Current Age

83.9%

Latest Pass Rate

1,370

Total Tests (All Years)

41,764 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 1969 Lotus Elan as it ages.

40 yrs79.3%

→ ↑1.2%

41 yrs80.5%

→ ↑2.7%

42 yrs83.2%

→ ↓5.7%

43 yrs77.5%

→ ↑4.0%

44 yrs81.5%

→ ↑4.3%

45 yrs85.8%

→ ↓5.2%

46 yrs80.6%

→ ↑6.2%

47 yrs86.8%

→ ↓4.8%

48 yrs82.0%

→ ↑7.8%

49 yrs89.8%

→ ↓5.0%

50 yrs84.8%

→ ↓3.0%

52 yrs81.8%

→ ↑2.1%

55 yrs83.9%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
40 yrs	79.3%	121
41 yrs	80.5%	123
42 yrs	83.2%	131
43 yrs	77.5%	129
44 yrs	81.5%	130
45 yrs	85.8%	134
46 yrs	80.6%	139
47 yrs	86.8%	144
48 yrs	82.0%	150
49 yrs	89.8%	59
50 yrs	84.8%	46
52 yrs	81.8%	33
55 yrs	83.9%	31

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1969 Lotus Elan pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (55 yrs)	83.9%	31
2021 (52 yrs)	81.8%	33
2019 (50 yrs)	84.8%	46
2018 (49 yrs)	89.8%	59
2017 (48 yrs)	82%	150
2016 (47 yrs)	86.8%	144
2015 (46 yrs)	80.6%	139
2014 (45 yrs)	85.8%	134
2013 (44 yrs)	81.5%	130
2012 (43 yrs)	77.5%	129
2011 (42 yrs)	83.2%	131
2010 (41 yrs)	80.5%	123
2009 (40 yrs)	79.3%	121

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

79.3%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 121Avg Mileage 48,451Top Failure Brakes — 11.6%

2010

80.5%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 123Avg Mileage 46,442Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 9.8%

2011

83.2%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 131Avg Mileage 46,107Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 11.5%

2012

77.5%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 129Avg Mileage 45,609Top Failure Brakes — 14.0%

2013

81.5%

Age (yrs) 44Tests 130Avg Mileage 45,990Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.5%

2014

85.8%

Age (yrs) 45Tests 134Avg Mileage 46,621Top Failure Brakes — 18.7%

2015

80.6%

Age (yrs) 46Tests 139Avg Mileage 48,647Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.9%

2016

86.8%

Age (yrs) 47Tests 144Avg Mileage 47,013Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 16.7%

2017

82.0%

Age (yrs) 48Tests 150Avg Mileage 46,717Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.7%

2018

89.8%

Age (yrs) 49Tests 59Avg Mileage 49,170Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 5.1%

2019

84.8%

Age (yrs) 50Tests 46Avg Mileage 44,117Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 15.2%

2021

81.8%

Age (yrs) 52Tests 33Avg Mileage 45,395Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 27.3%

2024

83.9%

Age (yrs) 55Tests 31Avg Mileage 41,764Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 25.8%

MOT results for 1969 Lotus Elan by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	40	79.3%	121	48,451	Brakes — 11.6%
2010	41	80.5%	123	46,442	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 9.8%
2011	42	83.2%	131	46,107	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 11.5%
2012	43	77.5%	129	45,609	Brakes — 14.0%
2013	44	81.5%	130	45,990	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.5%
2014	45	85.8%	134	46,621	Brakes — 18.7%
2015	46	80.6%	139	48,647	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.9%
2016	47	86.8%	144	47,013	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 16.7%
2017	48	82.0%	150	46,717	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.7%
2018	49	89.8%	59	49,170	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 5.1%
2019	50	84.8%	46	44,117	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 15.2%
2021	52	81.8%	33	45,395	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 27.3%
2024	55	83.9%	31	41,764	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 25.8%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1969 Lotus Elan, with age trends.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

22.8%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

16.1%

↓ Decreases with age

Brakes

12.3%

↑ Increases with age

Body, chassis, structure

12.1%

— Consistent

Visibility

9.5%

↑ 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	11.6% (40 yrs)	22.6% (55 yrs)	+11.0%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	6.6% (40 yrs)	3.2% (55 yrs)	-3.4%	🟢 ↓

Other Manufacture Years

1963 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1990 1991 1992 1994 1995 1996

← Back to Lotus Elan overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Lotus Elan page →

About This Data

This page shows how Lotus Elan cars manufactured in 1969 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 1,370 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.