1971 Lotus Europa — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1971 perform at MOT as they age

55 years

Current Age

91.1%

Latest Pass Rate

507

Total Tests (All Years)

47,566 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Best vintage for Europa

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1971 Lotus Europa as it ages.

38 yrs82.1%

→ ↓5.7%

39 yrs76.4%

→ ↑3.3%

40 yrs79.7%

→ ↑5.5%

41 yrs85.2%

→ ↓1.9%

42 yrs83.3%

→ ↑7.4%

43 yrs90.7%

→ ↓8.4%

44 yrs82.3%

→ ↑8.1%

45 yrs90.4%

→ ↑0.7%

46 yrs91.1%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
38 yrs	82.1%	56
39 yrs	76.4%	55
40 yrs	79.7%	64
41 yrs	85.2%	54
42 yrs	83.3%	54
43 yrs	90.7%	54
44 yrs	82.3%	62
45 yrs	90.4%	52
46 yrs	91.1%	56

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1971 Lotus Europa pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2017 (46 yrs)	91.1%	56
2016 (45 yrs)	90.4%	52
2015 (44 yrs)	82.3%	62
2014 (43 yrs)	90.7%	54
2013 (42 yrs)	83.3%	54
2012 (41 yrs)	85.2%	54
2011 (40 yrs)	79.7%	64
2010 (39 yrs)	76.4%	55
2009 (38 yrs)	82.1%	56

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

82.1%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 56Avg Mileage 43,365Top Failure Suspension — 10.7%

2010

76.4%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 55Avg Mileage 46,200Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 12.7%

2011

79.7%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 64Avg Mileage 45,938Top Failure Brakes — 15.6%

2012

85.2%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 54Avg Mileage 51,814Top Failure Steering — 7.4%

2013

83.3%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 54Avg Mileage 50,672Top Failure Brakes — 20.4%

2014

90.7%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 54Avg Mileage 52,538Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 11.1%

2015

82.3%

Age (yrs) 44Tests 62Avg Mileage 48,094Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 19.4%

2016

90.4%

Age (yrs) 45Tests 52Avg Mileage 48,556Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.2%

2017

91.1%

Age (yrs) 46Tests 56Avg Mileage 47,566Top Failure Suspension — 23.2%

MOT results for 1971 Lotus Europa by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	38	82.1%	56	43,365	Suspension — 10.7%
2010	39	76.4%	55	46,200	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 12.7%
2011	40	79.7%	64	45,938	Brakes — 15.6%
2012	41	85.2%	54	51,814	Steering — 7.4%
2013	42	83.3%	54	50,672	Brakes — 20.4%
2014	43	90.7%	54	52,538	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 11.1%
2015	44	82.3%	62	48,094	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 19.4%
2016	45	90.4%	52	48,556	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.2%
2017	46	91.1%	56	47,566	Suspension — 23.2%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1971 Lotus Europa, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

12.4%

↓ Decreases with age

Suspension

11.6%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

10.3%

↓ Decreases with age

Driver's View of the Road

6.3%

— Consistent

Steering

4.0%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	10.7% (38 yrs)	23.2% (46 yrs)	+12.5%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	10.7% (38 yrs)	5.4% (46 yrs)	-5.3%	🟢 ↓
Brakes	8.9% (38 yrs)	5.4% (46 yrs)	-3.5%	🟢 ↓
Driver's View of the Road	1.8% (38 yrs)	1.8% (46 yrs)	0.0%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

1970 1971 2006 2007

← Back to Lotus Europa overview

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

About This Data

This page shows how Lotus Europa cars manufactured in 1971 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2017, covering 507 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.