1970 Lotus Elan — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1970 perform at MOT as they age

56 years

Current Age

100.0%

Latest Pass Rate

1,602

Total Tests (All Years)

60,105 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Best vintage for Elan

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1970 Lotus Elan as it ages.

39 yrs82.8%

→ ↓0.5%

40 yrs82.3%

→ ↑1.1%

41 yrs83.4%

→ ↓3.9%

42 yrs79.5%

→ ↓0.7%

43 yrs78.8%

→ ↑5.1%

44 yrs83.9%

→ ↑2.4%

45 yrs86.3%

→ ↑0.8%

46 yrs87.1%

→ ↓4.9%

47 yrs82.2%

→ ↑5.5%

48 yrs87.7%

→ ↑4.2%

49 yrs91.9%

→ ↓8.1%

51 yrs83.8%

→ ↑0.1%

53 yrs83.9%

→ ↑16.1%

54 yrs100.0%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
39 yrs	82.8%	163
40 yrs	82.3%	147
41 yrs	83.4%	145
42 yrs	79.5%	156
43 yrs	78.8%	151
44 yrs	83.9%	155
45 yrs	86.3%	161
46 yrs	87.1%	163
47 yrs	82.2%	157
48 yrs	87.7%	65
49 yrs	91.9%	37
51 yrs	83.8%	37
53 yrs	83.9%	31
54 yrs	100.0%	34

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1970 Lotus Elan pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (54 yrs)	100%	34
2023 (53 yrs)	83.9%	31
2021 (51 yrs)	83.8%	37
2019 (49 yrs)	91.9%	37
2018 (48 yrs)	87.7%	65
2017 (47 yrs)	82.2%	157
2016 (46 yrs)	87.1%	163
2015 (45 yrs)	86.3%	161
2014 (44 yrs)	83.9%	155
2013 (43 yrs)	78.8%	151
2012 (42 yrs)	79.5%	156
2011 (41 yrs)	83.4%	145
2010 (40 yrs)	82.3%	147
2009 (39 yrs)	82.8%	163

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

82.8%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 163Avg Mileage 51,264Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 10.4%

2010

82.3%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 147Avg Mileage 46,230Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 10.2%

2011

83.4%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 145Avg Mileage 46,796Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 10.3%

2012

79.5%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 156Avg Mileage 47,081Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 9.6%

2013

78.8%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 151Avg Mileage 48,484Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.2%

2014

83.9%

Age (yrs) 44Tests 155Avg Mileage 47,585Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.0%

2015

86.3%

Age (yrs) 45Tests 161Avg Mileage 48,613Top Failure Brakes — 17.4%

2016

87.1%

Age (yrs) 46Tests 163Avg Mileage 49,166Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 12.9%

2017

82.2%

Age (yrs) 47Tests 157Avg Mileage 49,585Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.9%

2018

87.7%

Age (yrs) 48Tests 65Avg Mileage 53,594Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 18.5%

2019

91.9%

Age (yrs) 49Tests 37Avg Mileage 47,211Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 24.3%

2021

83.8%

Age (yrs) 51Tests 37Avg Mileage 45,960Top Failure Brakes — 24.3%

2023

83.9%

Age (yrs) 53Tests 31Avg Mileage 47,766Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 38.7%

2024

100.0%

Age (yrs) 54Tests 34Avg Mileage 60,105Top Failure —

MOT results for 1970 Lotus Elan by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	39	82.8%	163	51,264	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 10.4%
2010	40	82.3%	147	46,230	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 10.2%
2011	41	83.4%	145	46,796	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 10.3%
2012	42	79.5%	156	47,081	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 9.6%
2013	43	78.8%	151	48,484	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.2%
2014	44	83.9%	155	47,585	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.0%
2015	45	86.3%	161	48,613	Brakes — 17.4%
2016	46	87.1%	163	49,166	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 12.9%
2017	47	82.2%	157	49,585	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.9%
2018	48	87.7%	65	53,594	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 18.5%
2019	49	91.9%	37	47,211	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 24.3%
2021	51	83.8%	37	45,960	Brakes — 24.3%
2023	53	83.9%	31	47,766	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 38.7%
2024	54	100.0%	34	60,105	—

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1970 Lotus Elan, with age trends.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

23.8%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

15.5%

— Consistent

Brakes

11.9%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

9.8%

↑ Increases with age

Tyres

8.1%

↑ Increases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Not enough data to compare failures across ages.

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 1970 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 1,602 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.