1973 Lotus Elan — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1973 perform at MOT as they age

53 years

Current Age

89.2%

Latest Pass Rate

686

Total Tests (All Years)

44,019 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 1973 Lotus Elan as it ages.

36 yrs80.0%

→ ↓9.8%

37 yrs70.2%

→ ↑12.6%

38 yrs82.8%

→ ↓4.5%

39 yrs78.3%

→ ↓7.4%

40 yrs70.9%

→ ↑7.1%

41 yrs78.0%

→ ↓3.4%

42 yrs74.6%

→ ↑3.3%

43 yrs77.9%

→ ↑8.0%

44 yrs85.9%

→ ↓4.1%

45 yrs81.8%

→ ↓0.5%

48 yrs81.3%

→ ↑9.0%

50 yrs90.3%

→ ↓1.1%

51 yrs89.2%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
36 yrs	80.0%	55
37 yrs	70.2%	57
38 yrs	82.8%	58
39 yrs	78.3%	60
40 yrs	70.9%	55
41 yrs	78.0%	59
42 yrs	74.6%	63
43 yrs	77.9%	68
44 yrs	85.9%	78
45 yrs	81.8%	33
48 yrs	81.3%	32
50 yrs	90.3%	31
51 yrs	89.2%	37

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1973 Lotus Elan pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (51 yrs)	89.2%	37
2023 (50 yrs)	90.3%	31
2021 (48 yrs)	81.3%	32
2018 (45 yrs)	81.8%	33
2017 (44 yrs)	85.9%	78
2016 (43 yrs)	77.9%	68
2015 (42 yrs)	74.6%	63
2014 (41 yrs)	78%	59
2013 (40 yrs)	70.9%	55
2012 (39 yrs)	78.3%	60
2011 (38 yrs)	82.8%	58
2010 (37 yrs)	70.2%	57
2009 (36 yrs)	80%	55

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

80.0%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 55Avg Mileage 45,383Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 14.5%

2010

70.2%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 57Avg Mileage 51,999Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 19.3%

2011

82.8%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 58Avg Mileage 49,315Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 13.8%

2012

78.3%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 60Avg Mileage 50,836Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 15.0%

2013

70.9%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 55Avg Mileage 51,262Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 60.0%

2014

78.0%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 59Avg Mileage 54,242Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.1%

2015

74.6%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 63Avg Mileage 54,535Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 52.4%

2016

77.9%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 68Avg Mileage 53,589Top Failure Brakes — 14.7%

2017

85.9%

Age (yrs) 44Tests 78Avg Mileage 50,987Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 16.7%

2018

81.8%

Age (yrs) 45Tests 33Avg Mileage 52,480Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 18.2%

2021

81.3%

Age (yrs) 48Tests 32Avg Mileage 49,755Top Failure Brakes — 31.3%

2023

90.3%

Age (yrs) 50Tests 31Avg Mileage 44,596Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 22.6%

2024

89.2%

Age (yrs) 51Tests 37Avg Mileage 44,019Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 13.5%

MOT results for 1973 Lotus Elan by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	36	80.0%	55	45,383	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 14.5%
2010	37	70.2%	57	51,999	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 19.3%
2011	38	82.8%	58	49,315	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 13.8%
2012	39	78.3%	60	50,836	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 15.0%
2013	40	70.9%	55	51,262	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 60.0%
2014	41	78.0%	59	54,242	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.1%
2015	42	74.6%	63	54,535	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 52.4%
2016	43	77.9%	68	53,589	Brakes — 14.7%
2017	44	85.9%	78	50,987	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 16.7%
2018	45	81.8%	33	52,480	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 18.2%
2021	48	81.3%	32	49,755	Brakes — 31.3%
2023	50	90.3%	31	44,596	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 22.6%
2024	51	89.2%	37	44,019	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 13.5%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1973 Lotus Elan, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

25.2%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

17.6%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

14.2%

↓ Decreases with age

Suspension

11.4%

↓ Decreases with age

Tyres

9.1%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	9.1% (36 yrs)	5.4% (51 yrs)	-3.7%	🟢 ↓
Steering	5.5% (36 yrs)	2.7% (51 yrs)	-2.8%	🟢 ↓

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 1973 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 686 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.