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NKC 699M

1973 Lotus Elan

Red Petrol 1558cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires24 Nov 2026
Tests21 (16 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate76.2%

Mileage

4,591 mi
Last recorded4,591 miles
Recorded on14 Nov 2025
Typical for 1973 Lotus Elan50,618 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

RegistrationNKC 699M
MakeLotus
ModelElan
Year1973
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,558cc

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 5 fail
Pass 14 Nov 2025 4,591 miles
Pass 20 Nov 2024 4,565 miles
Pass 22 Nov 2023 4,534 miles
Pass 25 Nov 2022 4,424 miles
Pass 28 Jun 2021 3,341 miles

Brake hydraulic reservoir: fluid low

Pass 20 Jun 2019 1,721 miles

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing all tyres deteriorated (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Fail 11 Jun 2019 1,720 miles

Nearside Headlamp light intensity severely reduced (4.1.4 (a))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar attachment bracket/mounting fractured (5.3.3 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing all tyres deteriorated (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

parking brake performance only just met requirements

Pass 22 Jun 2018

hand brake just meets required limits

new speedo fitted last years mileage72449

Pass 22 Feb 2017 72,449 miles
Pass 29 Oct 2015 72,351 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

all four tyres have cuts in tread and side wall

steering column top bearing has slight play

Fail 2 Oct 2015 72,324 miles

Battery insecure (1.9.1)

Brake pedal anti-slip provision missing (3.3.A.1b)

Hazard warning lamps inoperative (1.4.B.1b)

Nearside Drive shaft which forms part of the suspension coupling gaiter damaged to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc both (2.4.G.4e)

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

Offside Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.C.1b)

Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak both (2.7.3)

Rear fog lamp switch faulty (1.3.1a)

Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.C.1a)

Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Rear brake disc modified but not seriously weakened (3.5.1n)

Steering column top bearing slightly worn (2.1.2c)

all four tyres have cuts in tread of side walls

slight movement in both head lamps

Pass 28 Feb 2014 70,920 miles
Pass 20 Sep 2012 70,854 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

rear fog lamp switch damaged.

Fail 17 Sep 2012 70,854 miles

Driver's seat fore and aft adjustment mechanism not functioning as intended. (6.2.A.3)

Indicator switch faulty (1.4.A.1)

Nearside Hazard warning lamps inoperative (1.4.B.1b)

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Steering column top bearing excessively worn (2.1.2c)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

rear fog lamp switch damaged.

Fail 22 Jun 2010 17,798 miles

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 22 Jun 2010 17,798 miles
Pass 26 Jun 2009 68,806 miles
Pass 19 Jun 2008 67,438 miles
Fail 16 Jun 2008 67,438 miles

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

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

Pass 25 Apr 2007 64,003 miles
Pass 24 Jan 2006 58,700 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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NKC 699M is a 1973 Lotus Elan in Red with a 1,558cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 21 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 76.2%.

Across all 1973 Lotus Elan models, the average MOT pass rate is 83.2% with a typical mileage of 50,618 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 NKC 699M, 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 53 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 NKC 699M?

You can check the full history of NKC 699M by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was NKC 699M registered?

NKC 699M is a 1973 Lotus Elan, first registered on 3 August 1973.

Is NKC 699M safe to buy?

The MOT history for NKC 699M shows 21 tests with a 76.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does NKC 699M 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 NKC 699M. 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.