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HTU 706X

1981 Lotus Esprit

Red Petrol 4172cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires13 Oct 2026
Tests19 (16 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate84.2%

Mileage

5,352 mi
Last recorded5,352 miles
Recorded on10 Oct 2025
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
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationHTU 706X
MakeLotus
ModelEsprit
Year1981
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine4,172cc

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

16 pass 3 fail
Pass 10 Oct 2025 5,352 miles

Nearside Rear Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Offside Rear Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 14 Oct 2024 5,339 miles
Pass 3 Oct 2023 5,249 miles
Pass 6 Sep 2022 5,025 miles

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Slight play in both front inner rack joints

Surface rust on underside components

Pass 31 Aug 2021 4,797 miles
Pass 10 Sep 2020 4,648 miles

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

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 29 Apr 2019 4,423 miles
Fail 15 Apr 2019 4,417 miles

Nearside Front passenger door cannot be opened from inside the vehicle (6.2.3 (a))

Nearside Front passenger door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.3 (a))

Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Outer Drive shaft likely to become detached bolts loose (6.1.7 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 26 Apr 2018 4,279 miles

Offside Rear Outer cv has a slight leak of grease

covers & under trays fitted

Pass 29 Apr 2017 4,078 miles

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

covers & under trays fitted

Fail 29 Apr 2017 4,077 miles

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

Rear Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

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

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

covers & under trays fitted

Pass 12 Mar 2013 3,927 miles
Fail 5 Sep 2012 3,879 miles

Nearside Front coil spring fractured (2.4.C.1a)

n/s/r driveshaft gaiter deteriated

o/s/r driveshaft gaiter deteriated

Pass 15 Sep 2011 35,855 miles
Pass 7 Sep 2010 3,085 miles
Pass 14 Sep 2009 2,794 miles

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

o/s and n/s front lower suspension joints slight play

Pass 16 Sep 2008 2,129 miles
Pass 26 Sep 2007 500 miles
Pass 16 Sep 2006 91,453 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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HTU 706X is a 1981 Lotus Esprit in Red with a 4,172cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 19 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 84.2%.

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 performed better than the average for its year.

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 HTU 706X, 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 HTU 706X?

You can check the full history of HTU 706X by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was HTU 706X registered?

HTU 706X is a 1981 Lotus Esprit, first registered on 20 August 1981.

Is HTU 706X safe to buy?

The MOT history for HTU 706X shows 19 tests with a 84.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does HTU 706X 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 HTU 706X. 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.