1978 Triumph Unclassified — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1978 perform at MOT as they age

48 years

Current Age

85.7%

Latest Pass Rate

1,036

Total Tests (All Years)

23,786 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 Unclassified as it ages.

31 yrs81.3%

→ ↓3.4%

32 yrs77.9%

→ ↑5.3%

33 yrs83.2%

→ ↓1.0%

34 yrs82.2%

→ ↑7.5%

35 yrs89.7%

→ ↑2.2%

36 yrs91.9%

→ ↓2.0%

37 yrs89.9%

→ ↓6.6%

38 yrs83.3%

→ ↑2.9%

39 yrs86.2%

→ ↓0.5%

40 yrs85.7%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
31 yrs	81.3%	134
32 yrs	77.9%	122
33 yrs	83.2%	125
34 yrs	82.2%	101
35 yrs	89.7%	78
36 yrs	91.9%	74
37 yrs	89.9%	89
38 yrs	83.3%	120
39 yrs	86.2%	130
40 yrs	85.7%	63

Pass Rate Trend

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

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2018 (40 yrs)	85.7%	63
2017 (39 yrs)	86.2%	130
2016 (38 yrs)	83.3%	120
2015 (37 yrs)	89.9%	89
2014 (36 yrs)	91.9%	74
2013 (35 yrs)	89.7%	78
2012 (34 yrs)	82.2%	101
2011 (33 yrs)	83.2%	125
2010 (32 yrs)	77.9%	122
2009 (31 yrs)	81.3%	134

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

81.3%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 134Avg Mileage 23,485Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 9.0%

2010

77.9%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 122Avg Mileage 25,126Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 10.7%

2011

83.2%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 125Avg Mileage 21,324Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 8.8%

2012

82.2%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 101Avg Mileage 21,813Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 11.9%

2013

89.7%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 78Avg Mileage 22,373Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 9.0%

2014

91.9%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 74Avg Mileage 20,683Top Failure Motorcycle steering and suspension — 5.4%

2015

89.9%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 89Avg Mileage 22,394Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 11.2%

2016

83.3%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 120Avg Mileage 19,419Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 19.2%

2017

86.2%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 130Avg Mileage 20,438Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 7.7%

2018

85.7%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 63Avg Mileage 23,786Top Failure Motorcycle lamps and reflectors — 7.9%

MOT results for 1978 Triumph Unclassified by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	31	81.3%	134	23,485	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 9.0%
2010	32	77.9%	122	25,126	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 10.7%
2011	33	83.2%	125	21,324	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 8.8%
2012	34	82.2%	101	21,813	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 11.9%
2013	35	89.7%	78	22,373	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 9.0%
2014	36	91.9%	74	20,683	Motorcycle steering and suspension — 5.4%
2015	37	89.9%	89	22,394	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 11.2%
2016	38	83.3%	120	19,419	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 19.2%
2017	39	86.2%	130	20,438	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 7.7%
2018	40	85.7%	63	23,786	Motorcycle lamps and reflectors — 7.9%

Common MOT Failures

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

Motorcycle lighting and signalling

9.3%

↓ Decreases with age

Motorcycle lamps and reflectors

7.9%

— Consistent

Motorcycle steering and suspension

5.6%

— Consistent

Motorcycle brakes

3.2%

— Consistent

Motorcycle structure and attachments

3.2%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Motorcycle lighting and signalling	9.0% (31 yrs)	3.2% (40 yrs)	-5.8%	🟢 ↓
Motorcycle brakes	2.2% (31 yrs)	3.2% (40 yrs)	+1.0%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

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

About This Data

This page shows how Triumph Unclassified cars manufactured in 1978 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2018, covering 1,036 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.