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OVB 320L

1972 Lotus Elan

Red Petrol 1588cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires27 Aug 2026
Tests12 (9 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate75%

Mileage

80,826 mi
Last recorded80,826 miles
Recorded on28 Aug 2025
Typical for 1972 Lotus Elan52,454 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationOVB 320L
MakeLotus
ModelElan
Year1972
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

9 pass 3 fail
Pass 28 Aug 2025 80,826 miles
Pass 30 Nov 2023 80,216 miles
Pass 11 Aug 2017 75,523 miles

Nearside Front Lower Front position lamp(s) has light sources not illuminating, but not more than 50% (1.1.A.3b)

Nearside Rear Front position lamp(s) has light sources not illuminating, but not more than 50% (1.1.A.3b)

Pass 1 Jul 2016 75,364 miles
Pass 10 Jul 2015 74,945 miles

Oil leak

Fail 4 Jul 2015 74,915 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

Nearside Rear brake caliper leaking (3.6.A.1)

Oil leak

Pass 19 May 2014 73,868 miles

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

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

Fail 19 May 2014 73,853 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

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

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

Pass 12 Apr 2013 72,786 miles

Offside Rear Direction indicator affected by the operation of another lamp (1.4.A.2h)

Pass 24 Mar 2012 71,291 miles
Pass 20 Apr 2009 71,194 miles

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

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Fail 20 Apr 2009 71,194 miles

Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Obligatory mirror insecure (8.1.1)

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

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

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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OVB 320L is a 1972 Lotus Elan in Red with a 1,588cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 12 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 75%.

Across all 1972 Lotus Elan models, the average MOT pass rate is 82.8% with a typical mileage of 52,454 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 OVB 320L, 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 54 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 OVB 320L?

You can check the full history of OVB 320L by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was OVB 320L registered?

OVB 320L is a 1972 Lotus Elan, first registered on 29 October 1972.

Is OVB 320L safe to buy?

The MOT history for OVB 320L shows 12 tests with a 75% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does OVB 320L 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 OVB 320L. 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.