1978 Triumph Spitfire — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1978 perform at MOT as they age

48 years

Current Age

70.4%

Latest Pass Rate

3,272

Total Tests (All Years)

49,429 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 1978 Triumph Spitfire as it ages.

31 yrs60.5%

→ ↑1.6%

32 yrs62.1%

→ ↓1.8%

33 yrs60.3%

→ ↑1.9%

34 yrs62.2%

→ ↓1.3%

35 yrs60.9%

→ ↓4.7%

36 yrs56.2%

→ ↑3.4%

37 yrs59.6%

→ ↑2.3%

38 yrs61.9%

→ ↑2.9%

39 yrs64.8%

→ ↑1.2%

40 yrs66.0%

→ ↓1.0%

41 yrs65.0%

→ ↓0.1%

42 yrs64.9%

→ ↑0.9%

43 yrs65.8%

→ ↑19.6%

44 yrs85.4%

→ ↓14.7%

45 yrs70.7%

→ ↓0.3%

46 yrs70.4%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
31 yrs	60.5%	342
32 yrs	62.1%	319
33 yrs	60.3%	325
34 yrs	62.2%	294
35 yrs	60.9%	304
36 yrs	56.2%	290
37 yrs	59.6%	312
38 yrs	61.9%	270
39 yrs	64.8%	281
40 yrs	66.0%	159
41 yrs	65.0%	80
42 yrs	64.9%	57
43 yrs	65.8%	79
44 yrs	85.4%	48
45 yrs	70.7%	58
46 yrs	70.4%	54

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1978 Triumph Spitfire pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (46 yrs)	70.4%	54
2023 (45 yrs)	70.7%	58
2022 (44 yrs)	85.4%	48
2021 (43 yrs)	65.8%	79
2020 (42 yrs)	64.9%	57
2019 (41 yrs)	65%	80
2018 (40 yrs)	66%	159
2017 (39 yrs)	64.8%	281
2016 (38 yrs)	61.9%	270
2015 (37 yrs)	59.6%	312
2014 (36 yrs)	56.2%	290
2013 (35 yrs)	60.9%	304
2012 (34 yrs)	62.2%	294
2011 (33 yrs)	60.3%	325
2010 (32 yrs)	62.1%	319
2009 (31 yrs)	60.5%	342

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

60.5%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 342Avg Mileage 58,377Top Failure Brakes — 23.7%

2010High Fail Rate

62.1%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 319Avg Mileage 54,899Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.9%

2011High Fail Rate

60.3%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 325Avg Mileage 56,917Top Failure Brakes — 24.3%

2012High Fail Rate

62.2%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 294Avg Mileage 59,502Top Failure Brakes — 19.4%

2013High Fail Rate

60.9%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 304Avg Mileage 56,516Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 43.8%

2014High Fail Rate

56.2%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 290Avg Mileage 55,470Top Failure Brakes — 59.3%

2015High Fail Rate

59.6%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 312Avg Mileage 54,018Top Failure Brakes — 52.6%

2016High Fail Rate

61.9%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 270Avg Mileage 57,544Top Failure Brakes — 45.2%

2017High Fail Rate

64.8%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 281Avg Mileage 53,063Top Failure Brakes — 46.6%

2018

66.0%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 159Avg Mileage 55,458Top Failure Brakes — 47.2%

2019

65.0%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 80Avg Mileage 54,844Top Failure Noise, emissions and leaks — 33.8%

2020High Fail Rate

64.9%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 57Avg Mileage 51,823Top Failure Brakes — 43.9%

2021

65.8%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 79Avg Mileage 56,204Top Failure Brakes — 51.9%

2022

85.4%

Age (yrs) 44Tests 48Avg Mileage 48,389Top Failure Brakes — 33.3%

2023

70.7%

Age (yrs) 45Tests 58Avg Mileage 47,498Top Failure Brakes — 39.7%

2024

70.4%

Age (yrs) 46Tests 54Avg Mileage 49,429Top Failure Brakes — 42.6%

MOT results for 1978 Triumph Spitfire by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	31	60.5%	342	58,377	Brakes — 23.7%
2010	32	62.1%	319	54,899	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.9%
2011	33	60.3%	325	56,917	Brakes — 24.3%
2012	34	62.2%	294	59,502	Brakes — 19.4%
2013	35	60.9%	304	56,516	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 43.8%
2014	36	56.2%	290	55,470	Brakes — 59.3%
2015	37	59.6%	312	54,018	Brakes — 52.6%
2016	38	61.9%	270	57,544	Brakes — 45.2%
2017	39	64.8%	281	53,063	Brakes — 46.6%
2018	40	66.0%	159	55,458	Brakes — 47.2%
2019	41	65.0%	80	54,844	Noise, emissions and leaks — 33.8%
2020	42	64.9%	57	51,823	Brakes — 43.9%
2021	43	65.8%	79	56,204	Brakes — 51.9%
2022	44	85.4%	48	48,389	Brakes — 33.3%
2023	45	70.7%	58	47,498	Brakes — 39.7%
2024	46	70.4%	54	49,429	Brakes — 42.6%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1978 Triumph Spitfire, with age trends.

Brakes

38.7%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

29.9%

↓ Decreases with age

Noise, emissions and leaks

26.1%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

25.1%

— Consistent

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

25.1%

↑ 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	23.7% (31 yrs)	42.6% (46 yrs)	+18.9%	🔴 ↑

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 1978 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 3,272 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.