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ATA 685L

1972 Triumph Spitfire

Red Petrol 1998cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires21 May 2026
Tests21 (15 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate71.4%

Mileage

14,893 mi
Last recorded14,893 miles
Recorded on22 May 2025
Typical for 1972 Triumph Spitfire47,542 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationATA 685L
MakeTriumph
ModelSpitfire
Year1972
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,998cc

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

15 pass 6 fail
Pass 22 May 2025 14,893 miles
Fail 13 May 2025 14,881 miles

All direction indicators not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Pass 31 Jul 2020 14,793 miles

hazard switch not working

Fail 30 Jun 2020 14,776 miles

Nearside Rear Hydraulic brake cylinder leaking hydraulic fluid (1.1.16 (b) (i))

Windscreen wiper not working (3.4 (a))

Headlamp switch does not immediately illuminate all dipped beam headlamps (4.1.3 (a))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 18 May 2018 14,607 miles
Pass 27 Apr 2017 14,388 miles
Pass 6 May 2016 14,155 miles

Nearside Front Direction indicator affected by the operation of another lamp (1.4.A.2h)

Nearside Rear Direction indicator affected by the operation of another lamp (1.4.A.2h)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing slight noise

Pass 13 May 2015 13,944 miles
Pass 15 May 2014 13,653 miles
Fail 14 May 2014 13,653 miles

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

Front Tyre(s) incorrect because different size tyres are fitted on the same axle. (4.1.A.1a)

Nearside Rear rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Rear Tyre(s) incorrect because different size tyres are fitted on the same axle. (4.1.A.1a)

rear brake application uneven (3.7.B.2)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 15 May 2013 13,514 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 24 Apr 2012 13,205 miles

n/side rear tyre

Pass 18 Apr 2011 12,925 miles
Pass 12 May 2010 12,848 miles
Fail 11 May 2010 12,848 miles

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

Nearside Rear position lamp(s) excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.1.A.3d)

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 29 Apr 2009 12,445 miles
Fail 29 Apr 2009 12,445 miles

Offside rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

Offside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Pass 17 Apr 2008 12,031 miles
Fail 7 Apr 2008 12,031 miles

Front Tyre(s) incorrect because different size tyres are fitted on the same axle. (4.1.A.1a)

Nearside Rear Mechanical brake component has restricted free movement (3.5.1k)

Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

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

Rear Brake performance not tested (3.7.A.1)

Rear Tyre(s) incorrect because different size tyres are fitted on the same axle. (4.1.A.1a)

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 28 Mar 2007 11,111 miles
Pass 24 Feb 2006 9,187 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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ATA 685L is a 1972 Triumph Spitfire in Red with a 1,998cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 21 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 71.4%.

Across all 1972 Triumph Spitfire models, the average MOT pass rate is 73.2% with a typical mileage of 47,542 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 ATA 685L, 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 54 years old, this Triumph Spitfire is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of ATA 685L?

You can check the full history of ATA 685L by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was ATA 685L registered?

ATA 685L is a 1972 Triumph Spitfire, first registered on 17 August 1972.

Is ATA 685L safe to buy?

The MOT history for ATA 685L shows 21 tests with a 71.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does ATA 685L 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 ATA 685L. 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.