1979 MG Mgb — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1979 perform at MOT as they age

47 years

Current Age

78.4%

Latest Pass Rate

621

Total Tests (All Years)

43,350 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 1979 MG Mgb as it ages.

30 yrs70.0%

→ ↑4.6%

31 yrs74.6%

→ ↓14.9%

32 yrs59.7%

→ ↑1.2%

33 yrs60.9%

→ ↓4.6%

34 yrs56.3%

→ ↑0.6%

35 yrs56.9%

→ ↑7.6%

36 yrs64.5%

→ ↑8.4%

37 yrs72.9%

→ ↓11.1%

38 yrs61.8%

→ ↑16.2%

39 yrs78.0%

→ ↑0.4%

40 yrs78.4%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
30 yrs	70.0%	60
31 yrs	74.6%	59
32 yrs	59.7%	62
33 yrs	60.9%	64
34 yrs	56.3%	64
35 yrs	56.9%	58
36 yrs	64.5%	62
37 yrs	72.9%	59
38 yrs	61.8%	55
39 yrs	78.0%	41
40 yrs	78.4%	37

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1979 MG Mgb pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2019 (40 yrs)	78.4%	37
2018 (39 yrs)	78%	41
2017 (38 yrs)	61.8%	55
2016 (37 yrs)	72.9%	59
2015 (36 yrs)	64.5%	62
2014 (35 yrs)	56.9%	58
2013 (34 yrs)	56.3%	64
2012 (33 yrs)	60.9%	64
2011 (32 yrs)	59.7%	62
2010 (31 yrs)	74.6%	59
2009 (30 yrs)	70%	60

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

70.0%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 60Avg Mileage 55,809Top Failure Suspension — 16.7%

2010

74.6%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 59Avg Mileage 43,927Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 13.6%

2011High Fail Rate

59.7%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 62Avg Mileage 46,700Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.6%

2012High Fail Rate

60.9%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 64Avg Mileage 48,004Top Failure Brakes — 17.2%

2013High Fail Rate

56.3%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 64Avg Mileage 47,748Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 56.3%

2014High Fail Rate

56.9%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 58Avg Mileage 48,498Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 37.9%

2015High Fail Rate

64.5%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 62Avg Mileage 54,315Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 41.9%

2016

72.9%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 59Avg Mileage 48,656Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 54.2%

2017High Fail Rate

61.8%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 55Avg Mileage 52,010Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 40.0%

2018

78.0%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 41Avg Mileage 49,282Top Failure Suspension — 29.3%

2019

78.4%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 37Avg Mileage 43,350Top Failure Visibility — 24.3%

MOT results for 1979 MG Mgb by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	30	70.0%	60	55,809	Suspension — 16.7%
2010	31	74.6%	59	43,927	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 13.6%
2011	32	59.7%	62	46,700	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.6%
2012	33	60.9%	64	48,004	Brakes — 17.2%
2013	34	56.3%	64	47,748	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 56.3%
2014	35	56.9%	58	48,498	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 37.9%
2015	36	64.5%	62	54,315	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 41.9%
2016	37	72.9%	59	48,656	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 54.2%
2017	38	61.8%	55	52,010	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 40.0%
2018	39	78.0%	41	49,282	Suspension — 29.3%
2019	40	78.4%	37	43,350	Visibility — 24.3%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1979 MG Mgb, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

35.0%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

24.6%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

21.3%

— Consistent

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions

18.6%

↑ Increases with age

Visibility

18.3%

↑ 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	15.0% (30 yrs)	13.5% (40 yrs)	-1.5%	⚪ —
Steering	11.7% (30 yrs)	10.8% (40 yrs)	-0.9%	⚪ —

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 1979 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2019, covering 621 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.