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J970 RBR

1992 Lotus Elan

Red Petrol 1588cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires27 Jan 2027
Tests25 (18 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate72%

Mileage

114,785 mi
Last recorded114,785 miles
Recorded on28 Jan 2026
Typical for 1992 Lotus Elan76,086 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationJ970 RBR
MakeLotus
ModelElan
Year1992
ColourRed
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

18 pass 7 fail
Pass 28 Jan 2026 114,785 miles
Fail 28 Jan 2026 114,785 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Pass 28 Aug 2024 114,484 miles
Fail 28 Aug 2024 114,484 miles

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 24 Aug 2023 114,155 miles
Pass 30 Aug 2022 114,032 miles

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

Pass 3 Dec 2019 113,666 miles
Pass 20 Dec 2018 113,146 miles
Pass 27 Dec 2017 112,682 miles
Pass 14 Dec 2016 112,562 miles
Pass 29 Dec 2015 112,330 miles
Pass 15 Oct 2014 112,010 miles
Fail 14 Oct 2014 112,005 miles

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

Pass 15 Oct 2013 111,322 miles

Nearside Front Front constant velocity joint gaiter deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.5.C.1a)

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Pass 15 Oct 2012 110,409 miles

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Pass 7 Nov 2011 109,773 miles

joint in fuel line under centre of car small section of rubber fuel pipe is perished, recommend replace.

Pass 24 Nov 2010 109,382 miles
Fail 26 Oct 2009 108,571 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too low and too far to the left. (1.8)

Pass 26 Oct 2009 108,571 miles
Fail 9 Oct 2009 108,489 miles

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

Nearside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image (1.2.4a)

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

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

Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Pass 4 Jun 2008 106,367 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Offside Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Offside Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Fail 21 May 2008 106,367 miles

Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Nearside Front Suspension arm corroded and seriously weakened (2.4.G.1) DANGEROUS

Nearside Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Offside Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Offside Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Fail 15 Mar 2007 105,925 miles

Offside Front Tyre(s) incorrect because a lightweight or space saving wheel is fitted (4.1.A.1b)

Offside front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Pass 15 Mar 2007 105,925 miles
Pass 30 Sep 2005 105,309 miles

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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J970 RBR is a 1992 Lotus Elan in Red with a 1,588cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 25 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 72%.

Across all 1992 Lotus Elan models, the average MOT pass rate is 73.0% with a typical mileage of 76,086 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 J970 RBR, 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 34 years old, this Lotus Elan is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of J970 RBR?

You can check the full history of J970 RBR by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was J970 RBR registered?

J970 RBR is a 1992 Lotus Elan, first registered on 17 July 1992.

Is J970 RBR safe to buy?

The MOT history for J970 RBR shows 25 tests with a 72% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does J970 RBR 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 J970 RBR. 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.