1973 MG B — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1973 perform at MOT as they age

53 years

Current Age

82.7%

Latest Pass Rate

6,670

Total Tests (All Years)

38,384 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 MG B as it ages.

36 yrs69.8%

→ ↑0.4%

37 yrs70.2%

→ ↑2.6%

38 yrs72.8%

→ ↓0.4%

39 yrs72.4%

→ ↓0.8%

40 yrs71.6%

→ ↑3.3%

41 yrs74.9%

→ ↑0.9%

42 yrs75.8%

→ ↑0.6%

43 yrs76.4%

→ ↑0.8%

44 yrs77.2%

→ ↑0.2%

45 yrs77.4%

→ ↑0.4%

46 yrs77.8%

→ ↓0.1%

47 yrs77.7%

→ ↑0.6%

48 yrs78.3%

→ ↑3.8%

49 yrs82.1%

→ ↓0.6%

50 yrs81.5%

→ ↑1.2%

51 yrs82.7%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
36 yrs	69.8%	547
37 yrs	70.2%	526
38 yrs	72.8%	519
39 yrs	72.4%	522
40 yrs	71.6%	518
41 yrs	74.9%	542
42 yrs	75.8%	545
43 yrs	76.4%	572
44 yrs	77.2%	584
45 yrs	77.4%	288
46 yrs	77.8%	198
47 yrs	77.7%	157
48 yrs	78.3%	323
49 yrs	82.1%	252
50 yrs	81.5%	265
51 yrs	82.7%	312

Pass Rate Trend

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

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (51 yrs)	82.7%	312
2023 (50 yrs)	81.5%	265
2022 (49 yrs)	82.1%	252
2021 (48 yrs)	78.3%	323
2020 (47 yrs)	77.7%	157
2019 (46 yrs)	77.8%	198
2018 (45 yrs)	77.4%	288
2017 (44 yrs)	77.2%	584
2016 (43 yrs)	76.4%	572
2015 (42 yrs)	75.8%	545
2014 (41 yrs)	74.9%	542
2013 (40 yrs)	71.6%	518
2012 (39 yrs)	72.4%	522
2011 (38 yrs)	72.8%	519
2010 (37 yrs)	70.2%	526
2009 (36 yrs)	69.8%	547

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

69.8%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 547Avg Mileage 42,139Top Failure Brakes — 13.9%

2010

70.2%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 526Avg Mileage 43,149Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 16.3%

2011

72.8%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 519Avg Mileage 42,669Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 13.9%

2012

72.4%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 522Avg Mileage 43,023Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 14.6%

2013

71.6%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 518Avg Mileage 42,430Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.3%

2014

74.9%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 542Avg Mileage 42,175Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.5%

2015

75.8%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 545Avg Mileage 41,432Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.1%

2016

76.4%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 572Avg Mileage 43,117Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.1%

2017

77.2%

Age (yrs) 44Tests 584Avg Mileage 42,526Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.0%

2018

77.4%

Age (yrs) 45Tests 288Avg Mileage 41,468Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 18.4%

2019

77.8%

Age (yrs) 46Tests 198Avg Mileage 40,486Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 22.2%

2020

77.7%

Age (yrs) 47Tests 157Avg Mileage 40,836Top Failure Suspension — 24.2%

2021

78.3%

Age (yrs) 48Tests 323Avg Mileage 42,411Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 23.8%

2022

82.1%

Age (yrs) 49Tests 252Avg Mileage 40,825Top Failure Brakes — 15.1%

2023

81.5%

Age (yrs) 50Tests 265Avg Mileage 43,260Top Failure Suspension — 17.0%

2024

82.7%

Age (yrs) 51Tests 312Avg Mileage 38,384Top Failure Suspension — 15.4%

MOT results for 1973 MG B by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	36	69.8%	547	42,139	Brakes — 13.9%
2010	37	70.2%	526	43,149	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 16.3%
2011	38	72.8%	519	42,669	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 13.9%
2012	39	72.4%	522	43,023	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 14.6%
2013	40	71.6%	518	42,430	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.3%
2014	41	74.9%	542	42,175	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.5%
2015	42	75.8%	545	41,432	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.1%
2016	43	76.4%	572	43,117	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.1%
2017	44	77.2%	584	42,526	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.0%
2018	45	77.4%	288	41,468	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 18.4%
2019	46	77.8%	198	40,486	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 22.2%
2020	47	77.7%	157	40,836	Suspension — 24.2%
2021	48	78.3%	323	42,411	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 23.8%
2022	49	82.1%	252	40,825	Brakes — 15.1%
2023	50	81.5%	265	43,260	Suspension — 17.0%
2024	51	82.7%	312	38,384	Suspension — 15.4%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1973 MG B, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

21.1%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

17.9%

— Consistent

Brakes

16.4%

— Consistent

Suspension

16.3%

— Consistent

Tyres

7.9%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	13.9% (36 yrs)	10.9% (51 yrs)	-3.0%	🟢 ↓
Suspension	13.5% (36 yrs)	15.4% (51 yrs)	+1.9%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982

← Back to MG B overview

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

About This Data

This page shows how MG B cars manufactured in 1973 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 6,670 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.