1981 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1981 perform at MOT as they age

45 years

Current Age

79.6%

Latest Pass Rate

1,351

Total Tests (All Years)

80,756 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 1981 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit as it ages.

28 yrs72.7%

→ ↑2.0%

29 yrs74.7%

→ ↓3.4%

30 yrs71.3%

→ ↑6.2%

31 yrs77.5%

→ ↓4.5%

32 yrs73.0%

→ ↓6.3%

33 yrs66.7%

→ ↑13.5%

34 yrs80.2%

→ ↓4.2%

35 yrs76.0%

→ ↑5.0%

36 yrs81.0%

→ ↓5.2%

37 yrs75.8%

→ ↑8.6%

38 yrs84.4%

→ ↓10.8%

39 yrs73.6%

→ ↑6.0%

40 yrs79.6%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
28 yrs	72.7%	154
29 yrs	74.7%	158
30 yrs	71.3%	129
31 yrs	77.5%	120
32 yrs	73.0%	115
33 yrs	66.7%	117
34 yrs	80.2%	116
35 yrs	76.0%	100
36 yrs	81.0%	105
37 yrs	75.8%	66
38 yrs	84.4%	64
39 yrs	73.6%	53
40 yrs	79.6%	54

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1981 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2021 (40 yrs)	79.6%	54
2020 (39 yrs)	73.6%	53
2019 (38 yrs)	84.4%	64
2018 (37 yrs)	75.8%	66
2017 (36 yrs)	81%	105
2016 (35 yrs)	76%	100
2015 (34 yrs)	80.2%	116
2014 (33 yrs)	66.7%	117
2013 (32 yrs)	73%	115
2012 (31 yrs)	77.5%	120
2011 (30 yrs)	71.3%	129
2010 (29 yrs)	74.7%	158
2009 (28 yrs)	72.7%	154

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

72.7%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 154Avg Mileage 82,593Top Failure Brakes — 17.5%

2010

74.7%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 158Avg Mileage 82,996Top Failure Brakes — 12.7%

2011

71.3%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 129Avg Mileage 78,429Top Failure Brakes — 22.5%

2012

77.5%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 120Avg Mileage 79,880Top Failure Brakes — 15.8%

2013

73.0%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 115Avg Mileage 79,944Top Failure Brakes — 41.7%

2014

66.7%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 117Avg Mileage 83,739Top Failure Brakes — 45.3%

2015

80.2%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 116Avg Mileage 79,492Top Failure Brakes — 30.2%

2016

76.0%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 100Avg Mileage 81,335Top Failure Brakes — 32.0%

2017

81.0%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 105Avg Mileage 78,300Top Failure Brakes — 37.1%

2018

75.8%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 66Avg Mileage 79,281Top Failure Brakes — 30.3%

2019

84.4%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 64Avg Mileage 80,707Top Failure Suspension — 21.9%

2020

73.6%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 53Avg Mileage 82,097Top Failure Suspension — 45.3%

2021

79.6%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 54Avg Mileage 80,756Top Failure Noise, emissions and leaks — 16.7%

MOT results for 1981 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	28	72.7%	154	82,593	Brakes — 17.5%
2010	29	74.7%	158	82,996	Brakes — 12.7%
2011	30	71.3%	129	78,429	Brakes — 22.5%
2012	31	77.5%	120	79,880	Brakes — 15.8%
2013	32	73.0%	115	79,944	Brakes — 41.7%
2014	33	66.7%	117	83,739	Brakes — 45.3%
2015	34	80.2%	116	79,492	Brakes — 30.2%
2016	35	76.0%	100	81,335	Brakes — 32.0%
2017	36	81.0%	105	78,300	Brakes — 37.1%
2018	37	75.8%	66	79,281	Brakes — 30.3%
2019	38	84.4%	64	80,707	Suspension — 21.9%
2020	39	73.6%	53	82,097	Suspension — 45.3%
2021	40	79.6%	54	80,756	Noise, emissions and leaks — 16.7%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1981 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit, with age trends.

Brakes

26.2%

↓ Decreases with age

Suspension

21.4%

— Consistent

Noise, emissions and leaks

19.6%

— Consistent

Tyres

18.2%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

17.2%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	17.5% (28 yrs)	11.1% (40 yrs)	-6.4%	🟢 ↓
Suspension	13.6% (28 yrs)	14.8% (40 yrs)	+1.2%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

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

About This Data

This page shows how Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit cars manufactured in 1981 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2021, covering 1,351 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.