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ECA 261S

1978 Ford Escort

Blue Petrol 1598cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires12 Apr 2027
Tests4 (3 pass, 1 fail)
Pass rate75%

Mileage

43,914 mi
Last recorded43,914 miles
Recorded on13 Apr 2026
Typical for 1978 Ford Escort49,614 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationECA 261S
MakeFord
ModelEscort
Year1978
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,598cc

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

3 pass 1 fail
Pass 13 Apr 2026 43,914 miles

Oil leak, but not excessive rear oil seal (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Oil leak, but not excessive diff seals (8.4.1 (a) (i))

vehicle modified for rally use

Pass 12 Sep 2024 43,858 miles
Fail 12 Sep 2024 43,858 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (8.2.1.2 (b))

Pass 24 Aug 2023 43,168 miles

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Vehicle extensively modified for rally use

How Reliable is the Ford Escort?

Based on 4,961,191 MOT tests across 821,553 vehicles.

63.1%
Pass Rate
4,830
Miles/Year
38
Year Lifespan
821,553
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 465,333
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 447,459
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 433,778
Brake pipe excessively corroded 419,450
constant velocity joint gaiter split 203,602
Full Ford Escort reliability report

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ECA 261S is a 1978 Ford Escort in Blue with a 1,598cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 4 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 75%.

Across all 1978 Ford Escort models, the average MOT pass rate is 85.0% with a typical mileage of 49,614 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 Ford Escort fails its MOT is suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, accounting for 465,333 recorded failures. If you're considering buying ECA 261S, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Ford Escort typically stays on UK roads for around 38 years. At 48 years old, this Ford Escort is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of ECA 261S?

You can check the full history of ECA 261S by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was ECA 261S registered?

ECA 261S is a 1978 Ford Escort, first registered on 25 May 1978.

Is ECA 261S safe to buy?

The MOT history for ECA 261S shows 4 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 ECA 261S 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 ECA 261S. 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.