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MCF 122X

1981 Lotus Esprit

Yellow Petrol 2174cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires21 Jun 2027
Tests20 (14 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate70%

Mileage

42,141 mi
Last recorded42,141 miles
Recorded on22 Jun 2026
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

RegistrationMCF 122X
MakeLotus
ModelEsprit
Year1981
ColourYellow
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 6 fail
Pass 22 Jun 2026 42,141 miles
Fail 16 Jun 2026 42,135 miles

Offside Rear Direction indicator adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (4.4.3 (b))

Offside Stop lamp(s) adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (4.3.3 (b))

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Rear Direction indicator slightly affected by the operation of another lamp (4.4.3 (b))

Pass 2 Apr 2024 41,521 miles

Offside Rear Position lamp slightly affected by the operation of another lamp (4.2.3 (c))

Fail 17 Jun 2022 40,722 miles

Exhaust emissions exceed manufacturer's specified limit (8.2.2.2 (a))

Nearside Front Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Outer Anti-roll bar pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Wheel bearing rough when rotated (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Direction indicator adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (4.4.3 (b))

Offside Rear Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 16 Apr 2021 40,365 miles

Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement D-Bushes (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Lower Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn (5.1.2 (b) (i))

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

Offside Front Lower Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn (5.1.2 (b) (i))

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Pass 16 Apr 2019 40,220 miles
Pass 23 Apr 2018 40,075 miles
Pass 9 Sep 2016 39,753 miles
Fail 1 Sep 2016 39,749 miles

Nearside Front Lower Axle swivel joint has excessive play (2.5.A.3b)

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

Offside Front Lower Axle swivel joint has excessive play (2.5.A.3b)

Offside Rear rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

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

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

Pass 22 Dec 2014 39,633 miles
Fail 12 Dec 2014 39,632 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose has insufficient room to move, resulting in fouling on any part (3.6.B.4a)

Offside Front Brake hose has insufficient room to move, resulting in fouling on any part (3.6.B.4a)

Offside Front front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Fail 21 Aug 2014 39,619 miles

Front Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Brake hose has insufficient room to move, resulting in fouling on any part (3.6.B.4a)

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Offside rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Pass 19 Aug 2013 39,439 miles
Pass 30 Aug 2012 39,306 miles

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

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

Fail 10 Aug 2011 39,116 miles

Offside Rear Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

Oil leak

Pass 10 Aug 2011 39,116 miles

Oil leak

Pass 3 Aug 2010 38,834 miles

front flexies close to springsd on full lock

Pass 27 May 2009 38,527 miles
Pass 29 May 2008 38,223 miles

FRONT NUMBER PLATE SLIGHT FADE

Pass 30 May 2007 37,585 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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MCF 122X is a 1981 Lotus Esprit in Yellow with a 2,174cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 20 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 70%.

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 MCF 122X, 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 MCF 122X?

You can check the full history of MCF 122X by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was MCF 122X registered?

MCF 122X is a 1981 Lotus Esprit, first registered on 7 September 1981.

Is MCF 122X safe to buy?

The MOT history for MCF 122X shows 20 tests with a 70% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does MCF 122X 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 MCF 122X. 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.