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ESP 21T

1978 Lotus Esprit

White Petrol 1973cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires7 Sep 2026
Tests11 (7 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate63.6%

Mileage

69,006 mi
Last recorded69,006 miles
Recorded on8 Sep 2025
Typical for 1978 Lotus Esprit57,482 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

RegistrationESP 21T
MakeLotus
ModelEsprit
Year1978
ColourWhite
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,973cc

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

7 pass 4 fail
Pass 8 Sep 2025 69,006 miles
Pass 16 Sep 2020 68,964 miles

Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Fail 16 Sep 2020 68,964 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Seat belt buckle missing (7.1.2 (d))

Nearside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Headlamp aim too high and too far to the right. (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Pass 22 Feb 2016 68,947 miles
Fail 16 Feb 2016 68,947 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside (1.8)

Pass 16 Dec 2013 68,845 miles
Pass 6 Aug 2012 68,728 miles
Pass 12 Oct 2011 68,727 miles
Fail 11 Oct 2011 68,727 miles

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

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

Nearside Front front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

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

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

front brake application uneven (3.7.B.2)

Fail 5 Oct 2011 68,727 miles

Direction indicators not working (1.4.A.2c)

Driver's door cannot be opened from inside the vehicle (6.2.B.1b)

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

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

Nearside front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

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

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

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

Pass 30 Jul 2009 68,704 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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ESP 21T is a 1978 Lotus Esprit in White with a 1,973cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 11 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 63.6%.

Across all 1978 Lotus Esprit models, the average MOT pass rate is 74.5% with a typical mileage of 57,482 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 ESP 21T, 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 48 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 ESP 21T?

You can check the full history of ESP 21T by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was ESP 21T registered?

ESP 21T is a 1978 Lotus Esprit, first registered on 1 August 1978.

Is ESP 21T safe to buy?

The MOT history for ESP 21T shows 11 tests with a 63.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does ESP 21T 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 ESP 21T. 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.