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P385 DUD

1996 Caterham Seven (S3)

Blue Petrol 1691cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires15 Feb 2027
Tests19 (17 pass, 2 fail)
Pass rate89.5%

Mileage

29,470 mi
Last recorded29,470 miles
Recorded on16 Feb 2026
Typical for 1996 Caterham Seven (S3)24,518 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationP385 DUD
MakeCaterham
ModelSeven (S3)
Year1996
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,691cc
View full Caterham Seven (S3) reliability data

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

17 pass 2 fail
Pass 16 Feb 2026 29,470 miles

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

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

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

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

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Pass 20 Aug 2025 29,436 miles

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

nearside front brakes have a slight bind (felt by hand)

slight oil leak

Pass 23 Aug 2024 29,232 miles
Pass 24 Aug 2023 28,213 miles
Pass 4 Aug 2022 27,573 miles
Pass 7 Apr 2021 27,450 miles
Pass 11 Jul 2019 27,358 miles
Pass 20 Jun 2018 26,186 miles
Pass 31 Aug 2017 24,103 miles

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

Rear Anti-roll bar synthetic mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Pass 19 Aug 2016 20,786 miles

Nearside front brake fluctuating, but not excessively (3.7.B.3)

rear parking (secondary) brake imbalance requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.6b)

Pass 22 Jul 2015 20,018 miles

Nearside Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Fail 21 Jul 2015 20,018 miles

Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Fuel cap/sealing device does not fasten securely maintaining the sealing arrangement (7.2.4b)

Hazard warning tell tale not working correctly (1.4.B.1e)

Nearside Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

Side repeater missing (1.4.A.2b)

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Steering rack gaiter deteriorated (2.2.D.2d)

top missing off o/s carb jets

Pass 22 Aug 2014 19,883 miles
Pass 29 Jul 2013 19,566 miles

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

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

Oil leak

Fail 29 Jul 2013 19,566 miles

Front registration plate character(s) incorrectly spaced (6.3.4a)

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Rear registration plate character(s) incorrectly spaced (6.3.4a)

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

Nearside front brake fluctuating, but not excessively (3.7.B.3)

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

Offside front brake fluctuating, but not excessively (3.7.B.3)

Oil leak

Pass 27 Jul 2012 19,498 miles

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

Pass 26 Apr 2011 19,489 miles
Pass 15 Aug 2007 19,052 miles

Offside Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Pass 30 Mar 2006 17,433 miles

How Reliable is the Caterham Seven (S3)?

Based on 32,485 MOT tests across 2,453 vehicles.

86.1%
Pass Rate
613
Miles/Year
55
Year Lifespan
2,453
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Stop lamp not working 476
Steering rack gaiter split 309
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 206
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 188
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive 185
Full Caterham Seven (S3) reliability report

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P385 DUD is a 1996 Caterham Seven (S3) in Blue with a 1,691cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 19 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 89.5%.

Across all 1996 Caterham Seven (S3) models, the average MOT pass rate is 86.6% with a typical mileage of 24,518 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Caterham Seven (S3) fails its MOT is stop lamp not working, accounting for 476 recorded failures. If you're considering buying P385 DUD, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Caterham Seven (S3) typically stays on UK roads for around 55 years. At 30 years old, this Caterham Seven (S3) is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of P385 DUD?

You can check the full history of P385 DUD by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P385 DUD registered?

P385 DUD is a 1996 Caterham Seven (S3), first registered on 30 December 1996.

Is P385 DUD safe to buy?

The MOT history for P385 DUD shows 19 tests with a 89.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P385 DUD 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 P385 DUD. 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.