1971 MG B Roadster — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1971 perform at MOT as they age

55 years

Current Age

71.4%

Latest Pass Rate

435

Total Tests (All Years)

38,691 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Best vintage for B Roadster

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1971 MG B Roadster as it ages.

38 yrs68.9%

→ ↓12.6%

39 yrs56.3%

→ ↑5.9%

40 yrs62.2%

→ ↑12.3%

41 yrs74.5%

→ ↓6.6%

42 yrs67.9%

→ ↑5.2%

43 yrs73.1%

→ ↓1.4%

44 yrs71.7%

→ ↑2.2%

45 yrs73.9%

→ ↓2.5%

46 yrs71.4%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
38 yrs	68.9%	45
39 yrs	56.3%	48
40 yrs	62.2%	45
41 yrs	74.5%	51
42 yrs	67.9%	53
43 yrs	73.1%	52
44 yrs	71.7%	46
45 yrs	73.9%	46
46 yrs	71.4%	49

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1971 MG B Roadster pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2017 (46 yrs)	71.4%	49
2016 (45 yrs)	73.9%	46
2015 (44 yrs)	71.7%	46
2014 (43 yrs)	73.1%	52
2013 (42 yrs)	67.9%	53
2012 (41 yrs)	74.5%	51
2011 (40 yrs)	62.2%	45
2010 (39 yrs)	56.3%	48
2009 (38 yrs)	68.9%	45

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

68.9%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 45Avg Mileage 42,530Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 20.0%

2010High Fail Rate

56.3%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 48Avg Mileage 44,204Top Failure Brakes — 22.9%

2011High Fail Rate

62.2%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 45Avg Mileage 43,457Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.2%

2012

74.5%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 51Avg Mileage 43,454Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 13.7%

2013

67.9%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 53Avg Mileage 41,816Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.2%

2014

73.1%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 52Avg Mileage 43,679Top Failure Brakes — 44.2%

2015

71.7%

Age (yrs) 44Tests 46Avg Mileage 35,441Top Failure Suspension — 26.1%

2016

73.9%

Age (yrs) 45Tests 46Avg Mileage 38,246Top Failure Suspension — 21.7%

2017

71.4%

Age (yrs) 46Tests 49Avg Mileage 38,691Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 34.7%

MOT results for 1971 MG B Roadster by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	38	68.9%	45	42,530	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 20.0%
2010	39	56.3%	48	44,204	Brakes — 22.9%
2011	40	62.2%	45	43,457	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.2%
2012	41	74.5%	51	43,454	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 13.7%
2013	42	67.9%	53	41,816	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.2%
2014	43	73.1%	52	43,679	Brakes — 44.2%
2015	44	71.7%	46	35,441	Suspension — 26.1%
2016	45	73.9%	46	38,246	Suspension — 21.7%
2017	46	71.4%	49	38,691	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 34.7%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1971 MG B Roadster, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

22.8%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

20.4%

↓ Decreases with age

Body, Structure and General Items

19.7%

— Consistent

Suspension

16.9%

— Consistent

Driver's View of the Road

13.6%

↑ 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
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	20.0% (38 yrs)	34.7% (46 yrs)	+14.7%	🔴 ↑
Steering	8.9% (38 yrs)	4.1% (46 yrs)	-4.8%	🟢 ↓
Brakes	20.0% (38 yrs)	16.3% (46 yrs)	-3.7%	🟢 ↓
Suspension	15.6% (38 yrs)	18.4% (46 yrs)	+2.8%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1971

← Back to MG B Roadster overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the MG B Roadster page →

About This Data

This page shows how MG B Roadster cars manufactured in 1971 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2017, covering 435 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.