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ADD 538S

1978 Triumph Spitfire

Blue Petrol 1500cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires3 Jul 2026
Tests14 (9 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate64.3%

Mileage

61,083 mi
Last recorded61,083 miles
Recorded on4 Jul 2025
Typical for 1978 Triumph Spitfire62,304 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Triumph
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationADD 538S
MakeTriumph
ModelSpitfire
Year1978
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,500cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

9 pass 5 fail
Pass 4 Jul 2025 61,083 miles

Offside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Steering stiff in operation

Pass 30 Aug 2017 57,783 miles
Fail 29 Aug 2017 57,783 miles

Offside Front Front wheel bearing has excessive play (2.5.A.3c)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (3.7.B.5b)

Pass 11 Jul 2016 55,206 miles

Steering column top bearing slightly worn (2.1.2c)

Fail 11 Jul 2016 55,206 miles

Nearside Front Seat belt flexible stalk damaged likely to lead to failure under load (5.2.4a)

Nearside Front Upper Front suspension ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Offside Front Upper Front suspension ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Steering column top bearing slightly worn (2.1.2c)

Pass 22 May 2015 54,201 miles
Fail 20 May 2015 54,194 miles

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Pass 16 Apr 2014 53,391 miles
Fail 16 Apr 2014 53,391 miles

Horn emits two or more alternating tones (1.6.2d)

Pass 10 May 2013 53,000 miles

Engine oil leak.

Gearbox oil leak.

N/S/F steering drumstick has play.

N/S/R footbrake binding slightly.

N/S/R handbrake binding slightly.

Pass 22 Jul 2011 52,503 miles

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a slightly reduced damping effect (2.7.5)

Offside Rear Shock absorber has a slightly reduced damping effect (2.7.5)

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Fail 13 Aug 2010 52,500 miles

All position lamps not working (1.1.A.3b)

Hazard warning lamps not flashing in phase, with ignition off (1.4.B.1f)

Hazard warning lamps not flashing in phase, with ignition on (1.4.B.1f)

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Inner Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Nearside Front Hazard warning lamps not flashing in phase, with ignition on (1.4.B.1f)

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Rear Hazard warning lamps not flashing in phase, with ignition on (1.4.B.1f)

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Offside Front Hazard warning lamps not flashing in phase, with ignition on (1.4.B.1f)

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Rear Hazard warning lamps not flashing in phase, with ignition on (1.4.B.1f)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Centre Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Pass 27 Jun 2009 51,574 miles

Front Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Pass 22 Sep 2006 51,110 miles

How Reliable is the Triumph Spitfire?

Based on 69,541 MOT tests across 8,423 vehicles.

72.5%
Pass Rate
302
Miles/Year
63
Year Lifespan
8,423
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 4,320
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 2,718
brake binding 2,431
Stop lamp not working 2,126
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 1,894
Full Triumph Spitfire reliability report

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ADD 538S is a 1978 Triumph Spitfire in Blue with a 1,500cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 14 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 64.3%.

Across all 1978 Triumph Spitfire models, the average MOT pass rate is 70.6% with a typical mileage of 62,304 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

The most common reason a Triumph Spitfire fails its MOT is parking brake: efficiency below requirements, accounting for 4,320 recorded failures. If you're considering buying ADD 538S, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Triumph Spitfire typically stays on UK roads for around 63 years. At 48 years old, this Triumph Spitfire is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of ADD 538S?

You can check the full history of ADD 538S by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was ADD 538S registered?

ADD 538S is a 1978 Triumph Spitfire, first registered on 31 December 1978.

Is ADD 538S safe to buy?

The MOT history for ADD 538S shows 14 tests with a 64.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does ADD 538S have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on ADD 538S. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.