1971 MG Unclassified — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1971 perform at MOT as they age

55 years

Current Age

81.0%

Latest Pass Rate

1,761

Total Tests (All Years)

46,679 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 1971 MG Unclassified as it ages.

38 yrs61.6%

→ ↓2.4%

39 yrs59.2%

→ ↑7.5%

40 yrs66.7%

→ ↓2.0%

41 yrs64.7%

→ ↑2.9%

42 yrs67.6%

→ ↑9.0%

43 yrs76.6%

→ ↓2.1%

44 yrs74.5%

→ ↓3.1%

45 yrs71.4%

→ ↓2.3%

46 yrs69.1%

→ ↑3.2%

47 yrs72.3%

→ ↑8.7%

48 yrs81.0%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
38 yrs	61.6%	378
39 yrs	59.2%	311
40 yrs	66.7%	252
41 yrs	64.7%	190
42 yrs	67.6%	111
43 yrs	76.6%	94
44 yrs	74.5%	94
45 yrs	71.4%	119
46 yrs	69.1%	123
47 yrs	72.3%	47
48 yrs	81.0%	42

Pass Rate Trend

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

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2019 (48 yrs)	81%	42
2018 (47 yrs)	72.3%	47
2017 (46 yrs)	69.1%	123
2016 (45 yrs)	71.4%	119
2015 (44 yrs)	74.5%	94
2014 (43 yrs)	76.6%	94
2013 (42 yrs)	67.6%	111
2012 (41 yrs)	64.7%	190
2011 (40 yrs)	66.7%	252
2010 (39 yrs)	59.2%	311
2009 (38 yrs)	61.6%	378

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

61.6%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 378Avg Mileage 44,793Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 20.4%

2010High Fail Rate

59.2%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 311Avg Mileage 47,749Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.1%

2011

66.7%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 252Avg Mileage 45,986Top Failure Brakes — 18.3%

2012High Fail Rate

64.7%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 190Avg Mileage 45,284Top Failure Brakes — 18.4%

2013

67.6%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 111Avg Mileage 44,473Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 39.6%

2014

76.6%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 94Avg Mileage 47,253Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.9%

2015

74.5%

Age (yrs) 44Tests 94Avg Mileage 44,838Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.7%

2016

71.4%

Age (yrs) 45Tests 119Avg Mileage 40,661Top Failure Brakes — 40.3%

2017

69.1%

Age (yrs) 46Tests 123Avg Mileage 43,873Top Failure Suspension — 48.8%

2018

72.3%

Age (yrs) 47Tests 47Avg Mileage 43,074Top Failure Suspension — 40.4%

2019

81.0%

Age (yrs) 48Tests 42Avg Mileage 46,679Top Failure Brakes — 11.9%

MOT results for 1971 MG Unclassified by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	38	61.6%	378	44,793	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 20.4%
2010	39	59.2%	311	47,749	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.1%
2011	40	66.7%	252	45,986	Brakes — 18.3%
2012	41	64.7%	190	45,284	Brakes — 18.4%
2013	42	67.6%	111	44,473	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 39.6%
2014	43	76.6%	94	47,253	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.9%
2015	44	74.5%	94	44,838	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.7%
2016	45	71.4%	119	40,661	Brakes — 40.3%
2017	46	69.1%	123	43,873	Suspension — 48.8%
2018	47	72.3%	47	43,074	Suspension — 40.4%
2019	48	81.0%	42	46,679	Brakes — 11.9%

Common MOT Failures

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

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

25.7%

— Consistent

Suspension

24.6%

↓ Decreases with age

Brakes

23.4%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

16.5%

↓ Decreases with age

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions

10.1%

↑ 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
Suspension	19.8% (38 yrs)	11.9% (48 yrs)	-7.9%	🟢 ↓
Brakes	17.2% (38 yrs)	11.9% (48 yrs)	-5.3%	🟢 ↓

Other Manufacture Years

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

About This Data

This page shows how MG Unclassified cars manufactured in 1971 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2019, covering 1,761 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.