CarVerify

Free Car Check

DEA 243J

1971 Triumph Spitfire

Blue Petrol 1493cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires4 Sep 2026
Tests22 (17 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate77.3%

Mileage

23,879 mi
Last recorded23,879 miles
Recorded on11 Aug 2025
Typical for 1971 Triumph Spitfire47,770 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Triumph
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationDEA 243J
MakeTriumph
ModelSpitfire
Year1971
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,493cc

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

17 pass 5 fail
Pass 11 Aug 2025 23,879 miles
Pass 24 Aug 2024 23,653 miles

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Pass 12 Aug 2023 23,317 miles
Pass 27 Aug 2022 23,080 miles
Pass 14 Aug 2021 22,760 miles
Pass 5 Sep 2020 22,689 miles
Pass 6 Apr 2019 22,136 miles
Fail 6 Apr 2019 22,136 miles

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Front Brakes imbalanced across an axle by more than 50% Axle 1 (1.2.1 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle by more than 50% (1.2.1 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 17 Mar 2018 21,051 miles
Pass 30 Mar 2017 19,582 miles
Pass 24 Mar 2016 18,298 miles
Pass 8 Apr 2015 17,405 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Lower Steering pivot point has slight play (2.2.B.1g)

Pass 4 Apr 2014 15,073 miles
Pass 10 Jun 2013 14,693 miles
Fail 5 Jun 2013 14,693 miles

Nearside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.5.A.2)

Pass 15 Aug 2012 13,805 miles

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

Fail 10 Aug 2012 13,803 miles

Offside Front Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

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

Offside Rear Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Offside Rear Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Pass 2 Jul 2008 13,799 miles
Fail 24 Jun 2008 13,799 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

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

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

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

Pass 29 Jun 2007 13,799 miles
Fail 25 Jun 2007 13,799 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Front Lower Steering pivot point has excessive play (2.2.B.1g)

Offside Rear Road wheel badly damaged (4.2.A.1a)

Offside Track rod end ball pin shank loose (2.2.B.1c) DANGEROUS

Pass 24 May 2006 12,402 miles

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

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

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

DEA 243J is a 1971 Triumph Spitfire in Blue with a 1,493cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 22 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 77.3%.

Across all 1971 Triumph Spitfire models, the average MOT pass rate is 73.2% with a typical mileage of 47,770 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

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 DEA 243J, 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 55 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 DEA 243J?

You can check the full history of DEA 243J by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was DEA 243J registered?

DEA 243J is a 1971 Triumph Spitfire, first registered on 16 February 1971.

Is DEA 243J safe to buy?

The MOT history for DEA 243J shows 22 tests with a 77.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does DEA 243J 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 DEA 243J. 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.