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BGT 259S

1978 Triumph Spitfire

Red Petrol 1493cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires13 Jan 2027
Tests13 (9 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate69.2%

Mileage

41,940 mi
Last recorded41,940 miles
Recorded on14 Jan 2026
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

RegistrationBGT 259S
MakeTriumph
ModelSpitfire
Year1978
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,493cc

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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 4 fail
Pass 14 Jan 2026 41,940 miles

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

Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Both rear inner sills (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 4 Jun 2024 39,414 miles

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

Pass 2 Jun 2018 31,459 miles
Pass 4 Mar 2016 30,996 miles
Fail 29 Dec 2015 30,947 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.1a)

rear brake application uneven offside rear reading low 51%imbalance (3.7.B.2)

Pass 17 Dec 2014 30,606 miles
Fail 16 Dec 2014 30,606 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.1a)

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive (7.3.B.1b)

Pass 10 Oct 2013 30,488 miles

Steering column top bearing slightly worn (2.1.2c)

oil leaks from engine and rear axle diff

Pass 26 May 2012 30,315 miles

Oil leak

Steering column top bearing slightly worn (2.1.2c)

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1b)

slight oil leak from rear diff

Pass 16 May 2011 29,814 miles

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

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

Oil leak

oil leak ftom trat diff/

Fail 8 Oct 2008 28,558 miles

Nearside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image (1.2.4a)

Offside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Offside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image (1.2.4a)

Offside Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

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

Pass 24 Oct 2007 26,654 miles
Fail 12 Oct 2007 26,642 miles

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

Offside Stop lamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (1.2.1f)

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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BGT 259S is a 1978 Triumph Spitfire in Red with a 1,493cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 13 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 69.2%.

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 BGT 259S, 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 BGT 259S?

You can check the full history of BGT 259S by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was BGT 259S registered?

BGT 259S is a 1978 Triumph Spitfire, first registered on 1 June 1978.

Is BGT 259S safe to buy?

The MOT history for BGT 259S shows 13 tests with a 69.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does BGT 259S 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 BGT 259S. 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.