1972 Triumph Spitfire — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1972 perform at MOT as they age

54 years

Current Age

93.8%

Latest Pass Rate

1,274

Total Tests (All Years)

40,680 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Best vintage for Spitfire

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1972 Triumph Spitfire as it ages.

37 yrs63.5%

→ ↓0.9%

38 yrs62.6%

→ ↓3.0%

39 yrs59.6%

→ ↓1.9%

40 yrs57.7%

→ ↑10.4%

41 yrs68.1%

→ ↓2.6%

42 yrs65.5%

→ ↑3.5%

43 yrs69.0%

→ ↑1.9%

44 yrs70.9%

→ ↑5.7%

45 yrs76.6%

→ ↓9.9%

46 yrs66.7%

→ ↑12.7%

47 yrs79.4%

→ ↓17.3%

49 yrs62.1%

→ ↑10.6%

50 yrs72.7%

→ ↑9.5%

51 yrs82.2%

→ ↑11.6%

52 yrs93.8%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
37 yrs	63.5%	126
38 yrs	62.6%	107
39 yrs	59.6%	104
40 yrs	57.7%	104
41 yrs	68.1%	113
42 yrs	65.5%	110
43 yrs	69.0%	113
44 yrs	70.9%	110
45 yrs	76.6%	124
46 yrs	66.7%	42
47 yrs	79.4%	34
49 yrs	62.1%	66
50 yrs	72.7%	44
51 yrs	82.2%	45
52 yrs	93.8%	32

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1972 Triumph Spitfire pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (52 yrs)	93.8%	32
2023 (51 yrs)	82.2%	45
2022 (50 yrs)	72.7%	44
2021 (49 yrs)	62.1%	66
2019 (47 yrs)	79.4%	34
2018 (46 yrs)	66.7%	42
2017 (45 yrs)	76.6%	124
2016 (44 yrs)	70.9%	110
2015 (43 yrs)	69%	113
2014 (42 yrs)	65.5%	110
2013 (41 yrs)	68.1%	113
2012 (40 yrs)	57.7%	104
2011 (39 yrs)	59.6%	104
2010 (38 yrs)	62.6%	107
2009 (37 yrs)	63.5%	126

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

63.5%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 126Avg Mileage 49,868Top Failure Brakes — 30.2%

2010High Fail Rate

62.6%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 107Avg Mileage 46,555Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.5%

2011High Fail Rate

59.6%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 104Avg Mileage 48,640Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.0%

2012High Fail Rate

57.7%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 104Avg Mileage 48,137Top Failure Brakes — 26.0%

2013

68.1%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 113Avg Mileage 46,453Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 69.0%

2014

65.5%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 110Avg Mileage 47,114Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 50.9%

2015

69.0%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 113Avg Mileage 45,012Top Failure Brakes — 51.3%

2016

70.9%

Age (yrs) 44Tests 110Avg Mileage 48,707Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 47.3%

2017

76.6%

Age (yrs) 45Tests 124Avg Mileage 45,871Top Failure Brakes — 42.7%

2018

66.7%

Age (yrs) 46Tests 42Avg Mileage 46,481Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 38.1%

2019

79.4%

Age (yrs) 47Tests 34Avg Mileage 44,431Top Failure Brakes — 29.4%

2021High Fail Rate

62.1%

Age (yrs) 49Tests 66Avg Mileage 42,314Top Failure Brakes — 53.0%

2022

72.7%

Age (yrs) 50Tests 44Avg Mileage 39,621Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 45.5%

2023

82.2%

Age (yrs) 51Tests 45Avg Mileage 40,488Top Failure Suspension — 24.4%

2024

93.8%

Age (yrs) 52Tests 32Avg Mileage 40,680Top Failure Brakes — 21.9%

MOT results for 1972 Triumph Spitfire by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	37	63.5%	126	49,868	Brakes — 30.2%
2010	38	62.6%	107	46,555	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.5%
2011	39	59.6%	104	48,640	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.0%
2012	40	57.7%	104	48,137	Brakes — 26.0%
2013	41	68.1%	113	46,453	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 69.0%
2014	42	65.5%	110	47,114	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 50.9%
2015	43	69.0%	113	45,012	Brakes — 51.3%
2016	44	70.9%	110	48,707	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 47.3%
2017	45	76.6%	124	45,871	Brakes — 42.7%
2018	46	66.7%	42	46,481	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 38.1%
2019	47	79.4%	34	44,431	Brakes — 29.4%
2021	49	62.1%	66	42,314	Brakes — 53.0%
2022	50	72.7%	44	39,621	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 45.5%
2023	51	82.2%	45	40,488	Suspension — 24.4%
2024	52	93.8%	32	40,680	Brakes — 21.9%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1972 Triumph Spitfire, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

35.5%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

33.0%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

28.4%

↓ Decreases with age

Suspension

24.7%

— Consistent

Body, chassis, structure

16.1%

↓ Decreases 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	30.2% (37 yrs)	21.9% (52 yrs)	-8.3%	🟢 ↓
Steering	10.3% (37 yrs)	6.3% (52 yrs)	-4.0%	🟢 ↓
Suspension	19.0% (37 yrs)	21.9% (52 yrs)	+2.9%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Triumph Spitfire page →

About This Data

This page shows how Triumph Spitfire cars manufactured in 1972 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 1,274 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.