1981 Talbot Sunbeam — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1981 perform at MOT as they age

45 years

Current Age

87.5%

Latest Pass Rate

436

Total Tests (All Years)

85,797 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Best vintage for Sunbeam

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1981 Talbot Sunbeam as it ages.

28 yrs62.0%

→ ↑17.5%

29 yrs79.5%

→ ↓5.7%

30 yrs73.8%

→ ↑2.9%

31 yrs76.7%

→ ↑8.3%

32 yrs85.0%

→ ↓7.2%

33 yrs77.8%

→ ↓3.4%

34 yrs74.4%

→ ↑9.8%

35 yrs84.2%

→ ↑5.5%

36 yrs89.7%

→ ↑1.2%

38 yrs90.9%

→ ↓3.4%

40 yrs87.5%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
28 yrs	62.0%	50
29 yrs	79.5%	44
30 yrs	73.8%	42
31 yrs	76.7%	43
32 yrs	85.0%	40
33 yrs	77.8%	36
34 yrs	74.4%	39
35 yrs	84.2%	38
36 yrs	89.7%	39
38 yrs	90.9%	33
40 yrs	87.5%	32

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1981 Talbot Sunbeam pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2021 (40 yrs)	87.5%	32
2019 (38 yrs)	90.9%	33
2017 (36 yrs)	89.7%	39
2016 (35 yrs)	84.2%	38
2015 (34 yrs)	74.4%	39
2014 (33 yrs)	77.8%	36
2013 (32 yrs)	85%	40
2012 (31 yrs)	76.7%	43
2011 (30 yrs)	73.8%	42
2010 (29 yrs)	79.5%	44
2009 (28 yrs)	62%	50

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

62.0%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 50Avg Mileage 62,050Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.0%

2010

79.5%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 44Avg Mileage 55,502Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 13.6%

2011

73.8%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 42Avg Mileage 59,464Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 16.7%

2012

76.7%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 43Avg Mileage 58,767Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 14.0%

2013

85.0%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 40Avg Mileage 51,843Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 17.5%

2014

77.8%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 36Avg Mileage 59,859Top Failure Brakes — 30.6%

2015

74.4%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 39Avg Mileage 60,011Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 46.2%

2016

84.2%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 38Avg Mileage 57,469Top Failure Brakes — 18.4%

2017

89.7%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 39Avg Mileage 50,739Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 15.4%

2019

90.9%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 33Avg Mileage 55,572Top Failure Brakes — 12.1%

2021

87.5%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 32Avg Mileage 85,797Top Failure Suspension — 28.1%

MOT results for 1981 Talbot Sunbeam by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	28	62.0%	50	62,050	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.0%
2010	29	79.5%	44	55,502	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 13.6%
2011	30	73.8%	42	59,464	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 16.7%
2012	31	76.7%	43	58,767	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 14.0%
2013	32	85.0%	40	51,843	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 17.5%
2014	33	77.8%	36	59,859	Brakes — 30.6%
2015	34	74.4%	39	60,011	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 46.2%
2016	35	84.2%	38	57,469	Brakes — 18.4%
2017	36	89.7%	39	50,739	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 15.4%
2019	38	90.9%	33	55,572	Brakes — 12.1%
2021	40	87.5%	32	85,797	Suspension — 28.1%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1981 Talbot Sunbeam, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

20.7%

↓ Decreases with age

Suspension

14.5%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

13.0%

— Consistent

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

10.9%

↑ Increases with age

Tyres

10.0%

↑ 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	12.0% (28 yrs)	28.1% (40 yrs)	+16.1%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1979 1980 1981 1982 1983

← Back to Talbot Sunbeam overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Talbot Sunbeam page →

About This Data

This page shows how Talbot Sunbeam cars manufactured in 1981 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2021, covering 436 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.