1979 Triumph Spitfire — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1979 perform at MOT as they age

47 years

Current Age

71.9%

Latest Pass Rate

4,250

Total Tests (All Years)

55,618 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 1979 Triumph Spitfire as it ages.

30 yrs55.4%

→ ↑3.6%

31 yrs59.0%

→ ↓3.9%

32 yrs55.1%

→ ↑4.3%

33 yrs59.4%

→ ↓3.6%

34 yrs55.8%

→ ↓0.7%

35 yrs55.1%

→ ↑3.3%

36 yrs58.4%

→ ↑5.5%

37 yrs63.9%

→ ↓4.0%

38 yrs59.9%

→ ↑6.2%

39 yrs66.1%

→ ↑5.2%

40 yrs71.3%

→ ↓10.1%

41 yrs61.2%

→ ↑6.7%

42 yrs67.9%

→ ↑4.0%

43 yrs71.9%

→ ↑0.1%

44 yrs72.0%

→ ↓0.1%

45 yrs71.9%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
30 yrs	55.4%	413
31 yrs	59.0%	383
32 yrs	55.1%	403
33 yrs	59.4%	392
34 yrs	55.8%	398
35 yrs	55.1%	374
36 yrs	58.4%	356
37 yrs	63.9%	349
38 yrs	59.9%	342
39 yrs	66.1%	239
40 yrs	71.3%	202
41 yrs	61.2%	98
42 yrs	67.9%	112
43 yrs	71.9%	57
44 yrs	72.0%	75
45 yrs	71.9%	57

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1979 Triumph Spitfire pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (45 yrs)	71.9%	57
2023 (44 yrs)	72%	75
2022 (43 yrs)	71.9%	57
2021 (42 yrs)	67.9%	112
2020 (41 yrs)	61.2%	98
2019 (40 yrs)	71.3%	202
2018 (39 yrs)	66.1%	239
2017 (38 yrs)	59.9%	342
2016 (37 yrs)	63.9%	349
2015 (36 yrs)	58.4%	356
2014 (35 yrs)	55.1%	374
2013 (34 yrs)	55.8%	398
2012 (33 yrs)	59.4%	392
2011 (32 yrs)	55.1%	403
2010 (31 yrs)	59%	383
2009 (30 yrs)	55.4%	413

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

55.4%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 413Avg Mileage 55,408Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.2%

2010High Fail Rate

59.0%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 383Avg Mileage 53,722Top Failure Brakes — 22.7%

2011High Fail Rate

55.1%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 403Avg Mileage 55,293Top Failure Brakes — 24.3%

2012High Fail Rate

59.4%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 392Avg Mileage 55,494Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.2%

2013High Fail Rate

55.8%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 398Avg Mileage 53,715Top Failure Brakes — 65.1%

2014High Fail Rate

55.1%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 374Avg Mileage 54,244Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 65.8%

2015High Fail Rate

58.4%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 356Avg Mileage 52,833Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 48.6%

2016High Fail Rate

63.9%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 349Avg Mileage 54,301Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 51.6%

2017High Fail Rate

59.9%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 342Avg Mileage 55,275Top Failure Brakes — 48.2%

2018

66.1%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 239Avg Mileage 53,286Top Failure Brakes — 43.9%

2019

71.3%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 202Avg Mileage 54,263Top Failure Suspension — 32.2%

2020High Fail Rate

61.2%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 98Avg Mileage 51,981Top Failure Brakes — 40.8%

2021

67.9%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 112Avg Mileage 52,683Top Failure Suspension — 42.0%

2022

71.9%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 57Avg Mileage 54,004Top Failure Suspension — 47.4%

2023

72.0%

Age (yrs) 44Tests 75Avg Mileage 53,933Top Failure Brakes — 36.0%

2024

71.9%

Age (yrs) 45Tests 57Avg Mileage 55,618Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 29.8%

MOT results for 1979 Triumph Spitfire by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	30	55.4%	413	55,408	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.2%
2010	31	59.0%	383	53,722	Brakes — 22.7%
2011	32	55.1%	403	55,293	Brakes — 24.3%
2012	33	59.4%	392	55,494	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.2%
2013	34	55.8%	398	53,715	Brakes — 65.1%
2014	35	55.1%	374	54,244	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 65.8%
2015	36	58.4%	356	52,833	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 48.6%
2016	37	63.9%	349	54,301	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 51.6%
2017	38	59.9%	342	55,275	Brakes — 48.2%
2018	39	66.1%	239	53,286	Brakes — 43.9%
2019	40	71.3%	202	54,263	Suspension — 32.2%
2020	41	61.2%	98	51,981	Brakes — 40.8%
2021	42	67.9%	112	52,683	Suspension — 42.0%
2022	43	71.9%	57	54,004	Suspension — 47.4%
2023	44	72.0%	75	53,933	Brakes — 36.0%
2024	45	71.9%	57	55,618	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 29.8%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1979 Triumph Spitfire, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

37.8%

↓ Decreases with age

Brakes

35.0%

— Consistent

Suspension

32.3%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

28.0%

— Consistent

Noise, emissions and leaks

26.6%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	19.4% (30 yrs)	28.1% (45 yrs)	+8.7%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	21.3% (30 yrs)	21.1% (45 yrs)	-0.2%	⚪ —

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 1979 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 4,250 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.