1978 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1978 perform at MOT as they age

48 years

Current Age

83.3%

Latest Pass Rate

627

Total Tests (All Years)

67,571 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 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow as it ages.

31 yrs70.4%

→ ↑0.4%

32 yrs70.8%

→ ↓0.0%

33 yrs70.8%

→ ↑4.6%

34 yrs75.4%

→ ↓0.4%

35 yrs75.0%

→ ↓2.3%

36 yrs72.7%

→ ↓1.8%

37 yrs70.9%

→ ↑7.4%

38 yrs78.3%

→ ↑1.7%

39 yrs80.0%

→ ↑3.3%

40 yrs83.3%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
31 yrs	70.4%	81
32 yrs	70.8%	72
33 yrs	70.8%	72
34 yrs	75.4%	61
35 yrs	75.0%	64
36 yrs	72.7%	66
37 yrs	70.9%	55
38 yrs	78.3%	60
39 yrs	80.0%	60
40 yrs	83.3%	36

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1978 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2018 (40 yrs)	83.3%	36
2017 (39 yrs)	80%	60
2016 (38 yrs)	78.3%	60
2015 (37 yrs)	70.9%	55
2014 (36 yrs)	72.7%	66
2013 (35 yrs)	75%	64
2012 (34 yrs)	75.4%	61
2011 (33 yrs)	70.8%	72
2010 (32 yrs)	70.8%	72
2009 (31 yrs)	70.4%	81

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

70.4%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 81Avg Mileage 74,281Top Failure Brakes — 19.8%

2010

70.8%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 72Avg Mileage 77,828Top Failure Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 16.7%

2011

70.8%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 72Avg Mileage 75,897Top Failure Brakes — 15.3%

2012

75.4%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 61Avg Mileage 77,059Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 14.8%

2013

75.0%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 64Avg Mileage 72,701Top Failure Brakes — 39.1%

2014

72.7%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 66Avg Mileage 72,814Top Failure Brakes — 47.0%

2015

70.9%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 55Avg Mileage 75,159Top Failure Brakes — 58.2%

2016

78.3%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 60Avg Mileage 77,580Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.7%

2017

80.0%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 60Avg Mileage 74,648Top Failure Brakes — 41.7%

2018

83.3%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 36Avg Mileage 67,571Top Failure Brakes — 13.9%

MOT results for 1978 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	31	70.4%	81	74,281	Brakes — 19.8%
2010	32	70.8%	72	77,828	Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 16.7%
2011	33	70.8%	72	75,897	Brakes — 15.3%
2012	34	75.4%	61	77,059	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 14.8%
2013	35	75.0%	64	72,701	Brakes — 39.1%
2014	36	72.7%	66	72,814	Brakes — 47.0%
2015	37	70.9%	55	75,159	Brakes — 58.2%
2016	38	78.3%	60	77,580	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.7%
2017	39	80.0%	60	74,648	Brakes — 41.7%
2018	40	83.3%	36	67,571	Brakes — 13.9%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1978 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, with age trends.

Brakes

28.4%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

17.6%

↓ Decreases with age

Suspension

16.0%

— Consistent

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions

12.7%

— Consistent

Driver's View of the Road

12.4%

↑ 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	19.8% (31 yrs)	13.9% (40 yrs)	-5.9%	🟢 ↓
Suspension	9.9% (31 yrs)	11.1% (40 yrs)	+1.2%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980

← Back to Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow page →

About This Data

This page shows how Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow cars manufactured in 1978 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2018, covering 627 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.