1973 Triumph Spitfire — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1973 perform at MOT as they age

53 years

Current Age

51.1%

Latest Pass Rate

1,770

Total Tests (All Years)

44,797 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 1973 Triumph Spitfire as it ages.

36 yrs62.3%

→ ↑1.1%

37 yrs63.4%

→ ↓6.1%

38 yrs57.3%

→ ↑1.0%

39 yrs58.3%

→ ↑5.2%

40 yrs63.5%

→ ↓2.0%

41 yrs61.5%

→ ↑4.3%

42 yrs65.8%

→ ↓0.5%

43 yrs65.3%

→ ↑0.8%

44 yrs66.1%

→ ↓1.1%

45 yrs65.0%

→ ↑18.3%

46 yrs83.3%

→ ↓18.5%

48 yrs64.8%

→ ↑9.7%

49 yrs74.5%

→ ↓3.1%

50 yrs71.4%

→ ↓20.3%

51 yrs51.1%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
36 yrs	62.3%	162
37 yrs	63.4%	164
38 yrs	57.3%	171
39 yrs	58.3%	151
40 yrs	63.5%	159
41 yrs	61.5%	156
42 yrs	65.8%	155
43 yrs	65.3%	173
44 yrs	66.1%	174
45 yrs	65.0%	60
46 yrs	83.3%	36
48 yrs	64.8%	71
49 yrs	74.5%	51
50 yrs	71.4%	42
51 yrs	51.1%	45

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1973 Triumph Spitfire pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (51 yrs)	51.1%	45
2023 (50 yrs)	71.4%	42
2022 (49 yrs)	74.5%	51
2021 (48 yrs)	64.8%	71
2019 (46 yrs)	83.3%	36
2018 (45 yrs)	65%	60
2017 (44 yrs)	66.1%	174
2016 (43 yrs)	65.3%	173
2015 (42 yrs)	65.8%	155
2014 (41 yrs)	61.5%	156
2013 (40 yrs)	63.5%	159
2012 (39 yrs)	58.3%	151
2011 (38 yrs)	57.3%	171
2010 (37 yrs)	63.4%	164
2009 (36 yrs)	62.3%	162

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

62.3%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 162Avg Mileage 46,160Top Failure Brakes — 24.1%

2010High Fail Rate

63.4%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 164Avg Mileage 49,358Top Failure Brakes — 22.0%

2011High Fail Rate

57.3%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 171Avg Mileage 56,359Top Failure Brakes — 25.7%

2012High Fail Rate

58.3%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 151Avg Mileage 47,153Top Failure Brakes — 25.2%

2013High Fail Rate

63.5%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 159Avg Mileage 48,685Top Failure Brakes — 52.2%

2014High Fail Rate

61.5%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 156Avg Mileage 47,855Top Failure Brakes — 48.1%

2015

65.8%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 155Avg Mileage 48,273Top Failure Suspension — 40.6%

2016

65.3%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 173Avg Mileage 49,165Top Failure Suspension — 44.5%

2017

66.1%

Age (yrs) 44Tests 174Avg Mileage 50,145Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 43.7%

2018

65.0%

Age (yrs) 45Tests 60Avg Mileage 51,204Top Failure Brakes — 41.7%

2019

83.3%

Age (yrs) 46Tests 36Avg Mileage 45,991Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 25.0%

2021High Fail Rate

64.8%

Age (yrs) 48Tests 71Avg Mileage 47,094Top Failure Brakes — 57.7%

2022

74.5%

Age (yrs) 49Tests 51Avg Mileage 41,926Top Failure Brakes — 41.2%

2023

71.4%

Age (yrs) 50Tests 42Avg Mileage 45,626Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 33.3%

2024High Fail Rate

51.1%

Age (yrs) 51Tests 45Avg Mileage 44,797Top Failure Brakes — 44.4%

MOT results for 1973 Triumph Spitfire by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	36	62.3%	162	46,160	Brakes — 24.1%
2010	37	63.4%	164	49,358	Brakes — 22.0%
2011	38	57.3%	171	56,359	Brakes — 25.7%
2012	39	58.3%	151	47,153	Brakes — 25.2%
2013	40	63.5%	159	48,685	Brakes — 52.2%
2014	41	61.5%	156	47,855	Brakes — 48.1%
2015	42	65.8%	155	48,273	Suspension — 40.6%
2016	43	65.3%	173	49,165	Suspension — 44.5%
2017	44	66.1%	174	50,145	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 43.7%
2018	45	65.0%	60	51,204	Brakes — 41.7%
2019	46	83.3%	36	45,991	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 25.0%
2021	48	64.8%	71	47,094	Brakes — 57.7%
2022	49	74.5%	51	41,926	Brakes — 41.2%
2023	50	71.4%	42	45,626	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 33.3%
2024	51	51.1%	45	44,797	Brakes — 44.4%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1973 Triumph Spitfire, with age trends.

Brakes

36.3%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

32.6%

— Consistent

Suspension

26.9%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

26.5%

— Consistent

Body, chassis, structure

13.7%

↑ 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	24.1% (36 yrs)	44.4% (51 yrs)	+20.3%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	21.6% (36 yrs)	17.8% (51 yrs)	-3.8%	🟢 ↓

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 1973 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 1,770 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.