CarVerify

Free Car Check

FAB 171X

1981 Lotus Esprit

Black Petrol 2174cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires22 Jul 2012
Tests4 (1 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate25%

Mileage

123 mi
Last recorded123 miles
Recorded on23 Jul 2011
Typical for 1981 Lotus Esprit54,457 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Lotus
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

RegistrationFAB 171X
MakeLotus
ModelEsprit
Year1981
ColourBlack
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

1 pass 3 fail
Pass 23 Jul 2011 123 miles

Battery insecure

Exhaust emits blue smoke during acceleration (7.3.A.2c)

Offside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

both fuel cap seals are perishing

offside headlamp pod has slight play

Fail 22 Jul 2011 123 miles

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

Battery insecure

Coolant leak

Exhaust emits blue smoke during acceleration (7.3.A.2c)

Offside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

both fuel cap seals are perishing

offside headlamp pod has slight play

Fail 30 Mar 2011 88 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

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

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

Offside Inner Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Inner Headlamp insecure (1.7.3)

Offside Outer Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

Battery insecure

Coolant leak

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

driver's door exterior handle is cracking

offside fuel cap seal is perishing

Fail 21 Mar 2011 23 miles

Brake pedal anti-slip provision missing (3.3.A.1b)

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

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

Nearside Front Brake pipe kinked (3.6.B.2b)

Nearside Outer Headlamp aim too high and too far to the right. (1.8)

Nearside Outer Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe inadequately supported (3.6.B.1)

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Outer Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Rear Brake hose stretched (3.6.B.4c)

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

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Coolant leak

Oil leak

clutch pedal anti-slip pad is also missing

offside fuel cap seal is perishing

offside headlamp pod has play when fully raised

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

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

FAB 171X is a 1981 Lotus Esprit in Black with a 2,174cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 4 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 25%.

Across all 1981 Lotus Esprit models, the average MOT pass rate is 81.9% with a typical mileage of 54,457 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 FAB 171X, 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 45 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 FAB 171X?

You can check the full history of FAB 171X by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was FAB 171X registered?

FAB 171X is a 1981 Lotus Esprit, first registered on 25 August 1981.

Is FAB 171X safe to buy?

The MOT history for FAB 171X shows 4 tests with a 25% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does FAB 171X 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 FAB 171X. 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.