1978 MG Bgt — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1978 perform at MOT as they age

48 years

Current Age

66.1%

Latest Pass Rate

1,071

Total Tests (All Years)

55,146 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 1978 MG Bgt as it ages.

31 yrs60.7%

→ ↓4.3%

32 yrs56.4%

→ ↑9.1%

33 yrs65.5%

→ ↓5.3%

34 yrs60.2%

→ ↓9.4%

35 yrs50.8%

→ ↑17.0%

36 yrs67.8%

→ ↓3.5%

37 yrs64.3%

→ ↑0.9%

38 yrs65.2%

→ ↓5.4%

39 yrs59.8%

→ ↑6.3%

40 yrs66.1%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
31 yrs	60.7%	112
32 yrs	56.4%	101
33 yrs	65.5%	110
34 yrs	60.2%	113
35 yrs	50.8%	118
36 yrs	67.8%	115
37 yrs	64.3%	129
38 yrs	65.2%	112
39 yrs	59.8%	102
40 yrs	66.1%	59

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1978 MG Bgt pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2018 (40 yrs)	66.1%	59
2017 (39 yrs)	59.8%	102
2016 (38 yrs)	65.2%	112
2015 (37 yrs)	64.3%	129
2014 (36 yrs)	67.8%	115
2013 (35 yrs)	50.8%	118
2012 (34 yrs)	60.2%	113
2011 (33 yrs)	65.5%	110
2010 (32 yrs)	56.4%	101
2009 (31 yrs)	60.7%	112

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

60.7%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 112Avg Mileage 52,399Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.4%

2010High Fail Rate

56.4%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 101Avg Mileage 50,072Top Failure Suspension — 22.8%

2011

65.5%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 110Avg Mileage 50,015Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 18.2%

2012High Fail Rate

60.2%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 113Avg Mileage 50,515Top Failure Suspension — 23.0%

2013High Fail Rate

50.8%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 118Avg Mileage 48,479Top Failure Brakes — 52.5%

2014

67.8%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 115Avg Mileage 51,606Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 41.7%

2015High Fail Rate

64.3%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 129Avg Mileage 51,213Top Failure Suspension — 49.6%

2016

65.2%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 112Avg Mileage 53,079Top Failure Suspension — 38.4%

2017High Fail Rate

59.8%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 102Avg Mileage 50,518Top Failure Suspension — 44.1%

2018

66.1%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 59Avg Mileage 55,146Top Failure Suspension — 40.7%

MOT results for 1978 MG Bgt by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	31	60.7%	112	52,399	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.4%
2010	32	56.4%	101	50,072	Suspension — 22.8%
2011	33	65.5%	110	50,015	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 18.2%
2012	34	60.2%	113	50,515	Suspension — 23.0%
2013	35	50.8%	118	48,479	Brakes — 52.5%
2014	36	67.8%	115	51,606	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 41.7%
2015	37	64.3%	129	51,213	Suspension — 49.6%
2016	38	65.2%	112	53,079	Suspension — 38.4%
2017	39	59.8%	102	50,518	Suspension — 44.1%
2018	40	66.1%	59	55,146	Suspension — 40.7%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1978 MG Bgt, with age trends.

Suspension

33.5%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

27.1%

— Consistent

Brakes

26.6%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

26.4%

↓ Decreases with age

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions

19.2%

↓ Decreases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	15.2% (31 yrs)	40.7% (40 yrs)	+25.5%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	21.4% (31 yrs)	16.9% (40 yrs)	-4.5%	🟢 ↓

Other Manufacture Years

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

← Back to MG Bgt overview

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

About This Data

This page shows how MG Bgt cars manufactured in 1978 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2018, covering 1,071 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.