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KBL 236W

1981 Lotus Esprit

Silver Petrol 2174cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires12 Feb 2027
Tests15 (14 pass, 1 fail)
Pass rate93.3%

Mileage

83,393 mi
Last recorded83,393 miles
Recorded on13 Feb 2026
Typical for 1981 Lotus Esprit54,457 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationKBL 236W
MakeLotus
ModelEsprit
Year1981
ColourSilver
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

14 pass 1 fail
Pass 13 Feb 2026 83,393 miles
Pass 19 May 2020 80,908 miles
Fail 19 May 2020 80,908 miles

Nearside Rear Parking (secondary brake) on a single line braking system has inadequate effort at a wheel (1.3.1 (a) (i))

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

Pass 5 Apr 2019 79,278 miles
Pass 18 Dec 2017 78,964 miles
Pass 9 Dec 2016 78,405 miles

Nearside Front suspension has slight play in a upper suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Offside Front suspension has slight play in a upper suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Pass 27 Nov 2015 77,973 miles
Pass 19 Dec 2014 77,349 miles
Pass 28 Sep 2013 76,839 miles
Pass 5 Oct 2012 75,516 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Nearside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Oil leak

Pass 18 Oct 2011 75,072 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Pass 7 Oct 2010 72,322 miles

n/s/f wheel slightly hard to rotate when jacked up. not found during roller test. advise further attention

Pass 18 Dec 2008 72,199 miles
Pass 19 Oct 2007 70,040 miles
Pass 20 Oct 2006 65,378 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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KBL 236W is a 1981 Lotus Esprit in Silver with a 2,174cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 15 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 93.3%.

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 KBL 236W, 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 KBL 236W?

You can check the full history of KBL 236W by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was KBL 236W registered?

KBL 236W is a 1981 Lotus Esprit, first registered on 31 December 1981.

Is KBL 236W safe to buy?

The MOT history for KBL 236W shows 15 tests with a 93.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does KBL 236W 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 KBL 236W. 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.