1974 Triumph Spitfire — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1974 perform at MOT as they age

52 years

Current Age

64.3%

Latest Pass Rate

415

Total Tests (All Years)

57,200 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 1974 Triumph Spitfire as it ages.

35 yrs58.7%

→ ↑2.7%

36 yrs61.4%

→ ↓1.8%

37 yrs59.6%

→ ↑2.9%

38 yrs62.5%

→ ↓5.0%

39 yrs57.5%

→ ↑10.7%

40 yrs68.2%

→ ↓3.8%

41 yrs64.4%

→ ↓2.1%

42 yrs62.3%

→ ↑2.0%

43 yrs64.3%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
35 yrs	58.7%	46
36 yrs	61.4%	44
37 yrs	59.6%	47
38 yrs	62.5%	40
39 yrs	57.5%	40
40 yrs	68.2%	44
41 yrs	64.4%	45
42 yrs	62.3%	53
43 yrs	64.3%	56

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1974 Triumph Spitfire pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2017 (43 yrs)	64.3%	56
2016 (42 yrs)	62.3%	53
2015 (41 yrs)	64.4%	45
2014 (40 yrs)	68.2%	44
2013 (39 yrs)	57.5%	40
2012 (38 yrs)	62.5%	40
2011 (37 yrs)	59.6%	47
2010 (36 yrs)	61.4%	44
2009 (35 yrs)	58.7%	46

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

58.7%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 46Avg Mileage 48,142Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.1%

2010High Fail Rate

61.4%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 44Avg Mileage 54,389Top Failure Suspension — 27.3%

2011High Fail Rate

59.6%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 47Avg Mileage 45,094Top Failure Brakes — 25.5%

2012High Fail Rate

62.5%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 40Avg Mileage 51,546Top Failure Brakes — 20.0%

2013High Fail Rate

57.5%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 40Avg Mileage 61,628Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 70.0%

2014

68.2%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 44Avg Mileage 52,524Top Failure Brakes — 81.8%

2015High Fail Rate

64.4%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 45Avg Mileage 56,081Top Failure Brakes — 68.9%

2016High Fail Rate

62.3%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 53Avg Mileage 53,870Top Failure Suspension — 49.1%

2017High Fail Rate

64.3%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 56Avg Mileage 57,200Top Failure Brakes — 48.2%

MOT results for 1974 Triumph Spitfire by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	35	58.7%	46	48,142	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.1%
2010	36	61.4%	44	54,389	Suspension — 27.3%
2011	37	59.6%	47	45,094	Brakes — 25.5%
2012	38	62.5%	40	51,546	Brakes — 20.0%
2013	39	57.5%	40	61,628	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 70.0%
2014	40	68.2%	44	52,524	Brakes — 81.8%
2015	41	64.4%	45	56,081	Brakes — 68.9%
2016	42	62.3%	53	53,870	Suspension — 49.1%
2017	43	64.3%	56	57,200	Brakes — 48.2%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1974 Triumph Spitfire, with age trends.

Brakes

39.9%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

35.3%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

29.1%

↑ Increases with age

Steering

17.5%

— Consistent

Driver's View of the Road

16.4%

↓ 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	23.9% (35 yrs)	48.2% (43 yrs)	+24.3%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	26.1% (35 yrs)	44.6% (43 yrs)	+18.5%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	19.6% (35 yrs)	33.9% (43 yrs)	+14.3%	🔴 ↑
Body, Structure and General Items	6.5% (35 yrs)	12.5% (43 yrs)	+6.0%	🔴 ↑

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 1974 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2017, covering 415 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.