1973 Volkswagen Unclassified — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1973 perform at MOT as they age

53 years

Current Age

67.7%

Latest Pass Rate

1,300

Total Tests (All Years)

48,301 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 Volkswagen Unclassified as it ages.

36 yrs43.9%

→ ↑5.8%

37 yrs49.7%

→ ↓0.0%

38 yrs49.7%

→ ↓2.7%

39 yrs47.0%

→ ↑10.9%

40 yrs57.9%

→ ↓4.5%

41 yrs53.4%

→ ↑3.4%

42 yrs56.8%

→ ↑3.7%

43 yrs60.5%

→ ↑1.0%

44 yrs61.5%

→ ↓11.5%

45 yrs50.0%

→ ↑14.1%

46 yrs64.1%

→ ↓7.3%

48 yrs56.8%

→ ↑10.9%

51 yrs67.7%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
36 yrs	43.9%	180
37 yrs	49.7%	171
38 yrs	49.7%	155
39 yrs	47.0%	132
40 yrs	57.9%	95
41 yrs	53.4%	73
42 yrs	56.8%	95
43 yrs	60.5%	114
44 yrs	61.5%	130
45 yrs	50.0%	48
46 yrs	64.1%	39
48 yrs	56.8%	37
51 yrs	67.7%	31

Pass Rate Trend

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

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (51 yrs)	67.7%	31
2021 (48 yrs)	56.8%	37
2019 (46 yrs)	64.1%	39
2018 (45 yrs)	50%	48
2017 (44 yrs)	61.5%	130
2016 (43 yrs)	60.5%	114
2015 (42 yrs)	56.8%	95
2014 (41 yrs)	53.4%	73
2013 (40 yrs)	57.9%	95
2012 (39 yrs)	47%	132
2011 (38 yrs)	49.7%	155
2010 (37 yrs)	49.7%	171
2009 (36 yrs)	43.9%	180

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

43.9%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 180Avg Mileage 55,531Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 42.2%

2010High Fail Rate

49.7%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 171Avg Mileage 57,743Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 38.0%

2011High Fail Rate

49.7%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 155Avg Mileage 55,998Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 34.2%

2012High Fail Rate

47.0%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 132Avg Mileage 61,484Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 37.1%

2013High Fail Rate

57.9%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 95Avg Mileage 52,125Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 69.5%

2014High Fail Rate

53.4%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 73Avg Mileage 56,165Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 72.6%

2015High Fail Rate

56.8%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 95Avg Mileage 60,971Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 82.1%

2016High Fail Rate

60.5%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 114Avg Mileage 52,923Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 54.4%

2017High Fail Rate

61.5%

Age (yrs) 44Tests 130Avg Mileage 52,382Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 51.5%

2018High Fail Rate

50.0%

Age (yrs) 45Tests 48Avg Mileage 54,563Top Failure Suspension — 75.0%

2019High Fail Rate

64.1%

Age (yrs) 46Tests 39Avg Mileage 59,381Top Failure Brakes — 61.5%

2021High Fail Rate

56.8%

Age (yrs) 48Tests 37Avg Mileage 51,125Top Failure Suspension — 59.5%

2024

67.7%

Age (yrs) 51Tests 31Avg Mileage 48,301Top Failure Brakes — 74.2%

MOT results for 1973 Volkswagen Unclassified by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	36	43.9%	180	55,531	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 42.2%
2010	37	49.7%	171	57,743	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 38.0%
2011	38	49.7%	155	55,998	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 34.2%
2012	39	47.0%	132	61,484	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 37.1%
2013	40	57.9%	95	52,125	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 69.5%
2014	41	53.4%	73	56,165	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 72.6%
2015	42	56.8%	95	60,971	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 82.1%
2016	43	60.5%	114	52,923	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 54.4%
2017	44	61.5%	130	52,382	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 51.5%
2018	45	50.0%	48	54,563	Suspension — 75.0%
2019	46	64.1%	39	59,381	Brakes — 61.5%
2021	48	56.8%	37	51,125	Suspension — 59.5%
2024	51	67.7%	31	48,301	Brakes — 74.2%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1973 Volkswagen Unclassified, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

52.1%

— Consistent

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

46.1%

↓ Decreases with age

Brakes

45.9%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

42.6%

↓ Decreases with age

Body, chassis, structure

26.6%

↓ 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	33.3% (36 yrs)	74.2% (51 yrs)	+40.9%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	29.4% (36 yrs)	22.6% (51 yrs)	-6.8%	🟢 ↓

Other Manufacture Years

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

About This Data

This page shows how Volkswagen Unclassified cars manufactured in 1973 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 1,300 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.