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C956 UPE

1986 Lotus Esprit

Red Petrol 2174cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires3 Feb 2027
Tests20 (15 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate75%

Mileage

71,447 mi
Last recorded71,447 miles
Recorded on4 Feb 2026
Typical for 1986 Lotus Esprit53,759 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationC956 UPE
MakeLotus
ModelEsprit
Year1986
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,174cc

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 5 fail
Pass 4 Feb 2026 71,447 miles
Pass 10 Jan 2025 68,395 miles
Pass 12 Jan 2024 66,260 miles
Pass 17 Jan 2023 64,463 miles

Steering rack has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

Pass 18 Jan 2022 63,202 miles
Pass 11 Dec 2020 62,773 miles
Pass 17 Sep 2019 62,739 miles
Fail 17 Sep 2019 62,736 miles

Offside Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Pass 19 Sep 2018 61,993 miles
Fail 19 Sep 2018 61,993 miles

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Pass 26 Sep 2017 61,420 miles
Pass 2 Sep 2016 60,263 miles
Fail 2 Aug 2016 60,262 miles

Windscreen has damage to an area in excess of a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Pass 28 Jun 2012 60,057 miles

Parking brake lever ratchet mechanism is slightly worn (3.1.5)

Fail 25 Jun 2012 60,057 miles

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

Nearside Rear rear brake grabbing severely (3.7.A.5b)

Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Parking brake lever ratchet mechanism is slightly worn (3.1.5)

Pass 16 Jun 2011 58,162 miles
Pass 10 Jun 2008 57,084 miles
Fail 10 Jun 2008 57,081 miles

Direction indicators flashing more than 120 times a minute (1.4.A.2g)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Offside Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

Pass 18 Jul 2007 54,610 miles
Pass 7 Aug 2006 49,158 miles

How Reliable is the Lotus Esprit?

Based on 25,410 MOT tests across 2,324 vehicles.

80.6%
Pass Rate
515
Miles/Year
50
Year Lifespan
2,324
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 624
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 464
brake binding 455
parking brake recording little or no effort 332
Headlamp aim too low 326
Full Lotus Esprit reliability report

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C956 UPE is a 1986 Lotus Esprit in Red with a 2,174cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 20 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 75%.

Across all 1986 Lotus Esprit models, the average MOT pass rate is 82.2% with a typical mileage of 53,759 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 Lotus Esprit fails its MOT is parking brake: efficiency below requirements, accounting for 624 recorded failures. If you're considering buying C956 UPE, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Lotus Esprit typically stays on UK roads for around 50 years. At 40 years old, this Lotus Esprit is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of C956 UPE?

You can check the full history of C956 UPE by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was C956 UPE registered?

C956 UPE is a 1986 Lotus Esprit, first registered on 9 June 1986.

Is C956 UPE safe to buy?

The MOT history for C956 UPE shows 20 tests with a 75% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does C956 UPE 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 C956 UPE. 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.