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OVU 84W

1981 Lotus Esprit

Blue Petrol 2174cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires14 Jan 2027
Tests4 (3 pass, 1 fail)
Pass rate75%

Mileage

403 mi
Last recorded403 miles
Recorded on15 Jan 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

RegistrationOVU 84W
MakeLotus
ModelEsprit
Year1981
ColourBlue
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

3 pass 1 fail
Pass 15 Jan 2026 403 miles

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

Fail 13 Nov 2025 402 miles

Offside Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

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

Brake operation pressure/vacuum assistance close to minimum requirement (1.1.3 (a) (i))

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

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

Pass 23 Oct 2024 377 miles
Pass 11 Oct 2023 293 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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OVU 84W is a 1981 Lotus Esprit in Blue with a 2,174cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 4 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 75%.

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 OVU 84W, 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 OVU 84W?

You can check the full history of OVU 84W by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was OVU 84W registered?

OVU 84W is a 1981 Lotus Esprit, first registered on 31 December 1981.

Is OVU 84W safe to buy?

The MOT history for OVU 84W shows 4 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 OVU 84W 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 OVU 84W. 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.