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HGN 169K

1972 Lotus Elan

Silver Petrol 1588cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires26 Mar 2027
Tests19 (13 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate68.4%

Mileage

6,228 mi
Last recorded6,228 miles
Recorded on20 Mar 2026
Typical for 1972 Lotus Elan52,454 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationHGN 169K
MakeLotus
ModelElan
Year1972
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,588cc

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

13 pass 6 fail
Pass 20 Mar 2026 6,228 miles
Pass 27 Mar 2025 5,176 miles
Pass 13 May 2021 1,784 miles
Pass 15 Aug 2017 99,142 miles
Pass 23 Sep 2016 98,371 miles
Fail 23 Sep 2016 98,371 miles

Headlamp switch faulty headlight fault (1.7.1)

Windscreen wiper not operating automatically when switched on (8.2.1b)

Pass 3 Jun 2015 97,056 miles

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

Oil leak

Fail 27 May 2015 97,053 miles

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

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

Oil leak

Pass 27 May 2014 94,176 miles
Pass 16 May 2014 94,176 miles
Fail 16 May 2014 94,176 miles

Steering system has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel (steering rack fitted) (2.2.A.1b)

Pass 21 May 2013 91,405 miles
Fail 21 May 2013 91,405 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

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

front brake juddering severely (3.7.A.2b)

Pass 17 May 2012 87,128 miles
Pass 10 May 2012 87,128 miles
Fail 10 May 2012 87,128 miles

Front Windscreen wiper not operating automatically when switched on (8.2.1b)

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

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

Pass 27 May 2011 80,414 miles
Pass 27 May 2011 80,414 miles
Fail 27 May 2011 80,414 miles

Driver's seat insecure (6.2.A.1)

Nearside Front Tyre fouling a part of the vehicle (4.1.D.2)

Nearside Passenger's seat insecure (6.2.A.1)

Steering wheel retaining device insecure (2.1.6)

How Reliable is the Lotus Elan?

Based on 51,097 MOT tests across 4,280 vehicles.

77.4%
Pass Rate
554
Miles/Year
59
Year Lifespan
4,280
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 2,585
brake recording little or no effort 1,342
parking brake recording little or no effort 1,318
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 927
brake binding 845
Full Lotus Elan reliability report

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HGN 169K is a 1972 Lotus Elan in Silver with a 1,588cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 19 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 68.4%.

Across all 1972 Lotus Elan models, the average MOT pass rate is 82.8% with a typical mileage of 52,454 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 Elan fails its MOT is parking brake: efficiency below requirements, accounting for 2,585 recorded failures. If you're considering buying HGN 169K, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Lotus Elan typically stays on UK roads for around 59 years. At 54 years old, this Lotus Elan is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of HGN 169K?

You can check the full history of HGN 169K by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was HGN 169K registered?

HGN 169K is a 1972 Lotus Elan, first registered on 9 May 1972.

Is HGN 169K safe to buy?

The MOT history for HGN 169K shows 19 tests with a 68.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does HGN 169K 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 HGN 169K. 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.