1972 Lotus Elan — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1972 perform at MOT as they age

54 years

Current Age

90.2%

Latest Pass Rate

1,126

Total Tests (All Years)

45,445 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 1972 Lotus Elan as it ages.

37 yrs77.9%

→ ↑2.3%

38 yrs80.2%

→ ↓2.3%

39 yrs77.9%

→ ↓2.1%

40 yrs75.8%

→ ↑4.0%

41 yrs79.8%

→ ↓2.1%

42 yrs77.7%

→ ↑10.5%

43 yrs88.2%

→ ↓2.3%

44 yrs85.9%

→ ↓4.5%

45 yrs81.4%

→ ↑4.6%

46 yrs86.0%

→ ↑4.0%

48 yrs90.0%

→ ↓1.3%

49 yrs88.7%

→ ↓6.3%

51 yrs82.4%

→ ↑7.8%

52 yrs90.2%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
37 yrs	77.9%	95
38 yrs	80.2%	106
39 yrs	77.9%	104
40 yrs	75.8%	99
41 yrs	79.8%	104
42 yrs	77.7%	103
43 yrs	88.2%	102
44 yrs	85.9%	99
45 yrs	81.4%	113
46 yrs	86.0%	43
48 yrs	90.0%	30
49 yrs	88.7%	53
51 yrs	82.4%	34
52 yrs	90.2%	41

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1972 Lotus Elan pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (52 yrs)	90.2%	41
2023 (51 yrs)	82.4%	34
2021 (49 yrs)	88.7%	53
2020 (48 yrs)	90%	30
2018 (46 yrs)	86%	43
2017 (45 yrs)	81.4%	113
2016 (44 yrs)	85.9%	99
2015 (43 yrs)	88.2%	102
2014 (42 yrs)	77.7%	103
2013 (41 yrs)	79.8%	104
2012 (40 yrs)	75.8%	99
2011 (39 yrs)	77.9%	104
2010 (38 yrs)	80.2%	106
2009 (37 yrs)	77.9%	95

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

77.9%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 95Avg Mileage 47,202Top Failure Brakes — 14.7%

2010

80.2%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 106Avg Mileage 45,040Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 15.1%

2011

77.9%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 104Avg Mileage 49,228Top Failure Brakes — 14.4%

2012

75.8%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 99Avg Mileage 44,802Top Failure Brakes — 13.1%

2013

79.8%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 104Avg Mileage 47,227Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.8%

2014

77.7%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 103Avg Mileage 48,204Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 35.0%

2015

88.2%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 102Avg Mileage 46,057Top Failure Brakes — 10.8%

2016

85.9%

Age (yrs) 44Tests 99Avg Mileage 48,482Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 17.2%

2017

81.4%

Age (yrs) 45Tests 113Avg Mileage 48,300Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 32.7%

2018

86.0%

Age (yrs) 46Tests 43Avg Mileage 48,004Top Failure Brakes — 18.6%

2020

90.0%

Age (yrs) 48Tests 30Avg Mileage 45,834Top Failure Suspension — 33.3%

2021

88.7%

Age (yrs) 49Tests 53Avg Mileage 48,594Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 28.3%

2023

82.4%

Age (yrs) 51Tests 34Avg Mileage 53,129Top Failure Brakes — 26.5%

2024

90.2%

Age (yrs) 52Tests 41Avg Mileage 45,445Top Failure Suspension — 12.2%

MOT results for 1972 Lotus Elan by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	37	77.9%	95	47,202	Brakes — 14.7%
2010	38	80.2%	106	45,040	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 15.1%
2011	39	77.9%	104	49,228	Brakes — 14.4%
2012	40	75.8%	99	44,802	Brakes — 13.1%
2013	41	79.8%	104	47,227	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.8%
2014	42	77.7%	103	48,204	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 35.0%
2015	43	88.2%	102	46,057	Brakes — 10.8%
2016	44	85.9%	99	48,482	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 17.2%
2017	45	81.4%	113	48,300	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 32.7%
2018	46	86.0%	43	48,004	Brakes — 18.6%
2020	48	90.0%	30	45,834	Suspension — 33.3%
2021	49	88.7%	53	48,594	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 28.3%
2023	51	82.4%	34	53,129	Brakes — 26.5%
2024	52	90.2%	41	45,445	Suspension — 12.2%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1972 Lotus Elan, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

19.7%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

17.4%

— Consistent

Brakes

15.7%

↓ Decreases with age

Suspension

11.6%

↑ Increases with age

Body, chassis, structure

7.3%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	14.7% (37 yrs)	7.3% (52 yrs)	-7.4%	🟢 ↓
Suspension	8.4% (37 yrs)	12.2% (52 yrs)	+3.8%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

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

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About This Data

This page shows how Lotus Elan cars manufactured in 1972 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 1,126 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.