1973 MG Mgb — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1973 perform at MOT as they age

53 years

Current Age

87.3%

Latest Pass Rate

891

Total Tests (All Years)

37,680 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 Mgb as it ages.

36 yrs82.4%

→ ↓15.3%

37 yrs67.1%

→ ↓0.1%

38 yrs67.0%

→ ↑4.8%

39 yrs71.8%

→ ↓1.6%

40 yrs70.2%

→ ↑2.7%

41 yrs72.9%

→ ↑5.7%

42 yrs78.6%

→ ↓7.6%

43 yrs71.0%

→ ↑5.5%

44 yrs76.5%

→ ↓1.5%

45 yrs75.0%

→ ↑15.3%

50 yrs90.3%

→ ↓3.0%

51 yrs87.3%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
36 yrs	82.4%	85
37 yrs	67.1%	76
38 yrs	67.0%	88
39 yrs	71.8%	85
40 yrs	70.2%	84
41 yrs	72.9%	85
42 yrs	78.6%	84
43 yrs	71.0%	93
44 yrs	76.5%	85
45 yrs	75.0%	32
50 yrs	90.3%	31
51 yrs	87.3%	63

Pass Rate Trend

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

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (51 yrs)	87.3%	63
2023 (50 yrs)	90.3%	31
2018 (45 yrs)	75%	32
2017 (44 yrs)	76.5%	85
2016 (43 yrs)	71%	93
2015 (42 yrs)	78.6%	84
2014 (41 yrs)	72.9%	85
2013 (40 yrs)	70.2%	84
2012 (39 yrs)	71.8%	85
2011 (38 yrs)	67%	88
2010 (37 yrs)	67.1%	76
2009 (36 yrs)	82.4%	85

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

82.4%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 85Avg Mileage 37,293Top Failure Brakes — 8.2%

2010

67.1%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 76Avg Mileage 38,553Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 19.7%

2011

67.0%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 88Avg Mileage 37,093Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 18.2%

2012

71.8%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 85Avg Mileage 36,853Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 18.8%

2013

70.2%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 84Avg Mileage 36,042Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 41.7%

2014

72.9%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 85Avg Mileage 37,044Top Failure Suspension — 22.4%

2015

78.6%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 84Avg Mileage 36,582Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 38.1%

2016

71.0%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 93Avg Mileage 37,702Top Failure Suspension — 34.4%

2017

76.5%

Age (yrs) 44Tests 85Avg Mileage 41,292Top Failure Suspension — 31.8%

2018

75.0%

Age (yrs) 45Tests 32Avg Mileage 38,557Top Failure Suspension — 34.4%

2023

90.3%

Age (yrs) 50Tests 31Avg Mileage 33,314Top Failure Suspension — 29.0%

2024

87.3%

Age (yrs) 51Tests 63Avg Mileage 37,680Top Failure Brakes — 15.9%

MOT results for 1973 MG Mgb by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	36	82.4%	85	37,293	Brakes — 8.2%
2010	37	67.1%	76	38,553	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 19.7%
2011	38	67.0%	88	37,093	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 18.2%
2012	39	71.8%	85	36,853	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 18.8%
2013	40	70.2%	84	36,042	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 41.7%
2014	41	72.9%	85	37,044	Suspension — 22.4%
2015	42	78.6%	84	36,582	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 38.1%
2016	43	71.0%	93	37,702	Suspension — 34.4%
2017	44	76.5%	85	41,292	Suspension — 31.8%
2018	45	75.0%	32	38,557	Suspension — 34.4%
2023	50	90.3%	31	33,314	Suspension — 29.0%
2024	51	87.3%	63	37,680	Brakes — 15.9%

Common MOT Failures

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

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

23.7%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

21.1%

↓ Decreases with age

Brakes

20.2%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

10.5%

↓ Decreases with age

Non-component advisories

9.8%

↑ 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
Brakes	8.2% (36 yrs)	15.9% (51 yrs)	+7.7%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	8.2% (36 yrs)	3.2% (51 yrs)	-5.0%	🟢 ↓

Other Manufacture Years

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

← Back to MG Mgb overview

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

About This Data

This page shows how MG Mgb cars manufactured in 1973 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 891 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.