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F681 TBF

1989 Caterham Seven (S3)

Red Petrol 1599cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires14 Aug 2026
Tests22 (18 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate81.8%

Mileage

20,642 mi
Last recorded20,642 miles
Recorded on15 Aug 2025
Typical for 1989 Caterham Seven (S3)20,870 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationF681 TBF
MakeCaterham
ModelSeven (S3)
Year1989
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,599cc

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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

18 pass 4 fail
Pass 15 Aug 2025 20,642 miles
Pass 27 Oct 2023 20,317 miles
Pass 18 Nov 2022 20,006 miles
Pass 8 Oct 2021 19,779 miles
Pass 14 Oct 2020 19,563 miles
Pass 15 Apr 2019 19,344 miles
Pass 21 May 2018 19,081 miles
Fail 21 May 2018 19,081 miles

Stop lamp(s) all not working (4.3.1 (a) (iii)) DANGEROUS

Fail 2 May 2018 19,074 miles

Nearside Headlamp insecure (1.7.3)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Stop lamp not working both (1.2.1b) DANGEROUS

Oil leak ()

Rear reg plate damaged but legible

Pass 7 Apr 2017 18,667 miles

Rear registration plate slightly damaged

slight oil weep

Pass 26 Mar 2016 18,631 miles

Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Pass 9 Apr 2015 18,507 miles

rear number plate cracked

Pass 6 Jun 2014 18,245 miles
Pass 31 May 2013 17,977 miles
Pass 25 May 2012 17,653 miles
Pass 21 Apr 2011 17,094 miles

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

both rear tyre treads badly cracked

engine has oil leak

front lower suspension bushes slightly perished

Pass 23 Apr 2010 17,087 miles

engine has oil leak

slight exhaust leak from collector

Pass 6 Jul 2009 17,004 miles
Fail 29 May 2009 17,004 miles

Offside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Pass 16 Jan 2008 16,854 miles

front number plate cracked

Fail 12 Jan 2008 16,824 miles

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

Offside Rear brake disc excessively pitted (3.5.1h)

Crack to the front number plate

Front exhaust joint blowing slightly

Pass 17 Oct 2006 16,401 miles

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Steering rack gaiter deteriorated (2.2.D.2d)

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

advise front number plate cracked

How Reliable is the Caterham Seven (S3)?

Based on 32,485 MOT tests across 2,453 vehicles.

86.1%
Pass Rate
613
Miles/Year
55
Year Lifespan
2,453
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Stop lamp not working 476
Steering rack gaiter split 309
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 206
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 188
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive 185
Full Caterham Seven (S3) reliability report

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F681 TBF is a 1989 Caterham Seven (S3) in Red with a 1,599cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 22 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 81.8%.

Across all 1989 Caterham Seven (S3) models, the average MOT pass rate is 87.5% with a typical mileage of 20,870 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 Caterham Seven (S3) fails its MOT is stop lamp not working, accounting for 476 recorded failures. If you're considering buying F681 TBF, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Caterham Seven (S3) typically stays on UK roads for around 55 years. At 37 years old, this Caterham Seven (S3) is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of F681 TBF?

You can check the full history of F681 TBF by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was F681 TBF registered?

F681 TBF is a 1989 Caterham Seven (S3), first registered on 11 January 1989.

Is F681 TBF safe to buy?

The MOT history for F681 TBF shows 22 tests with a 81.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does F681 TBF 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 F681 TBF. 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.