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PUA 281L

1972 Lotus Elan

Red Petrol 1558cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires11 May 2027
Tests6 (6 pass, 0 fail)
Pass rate100%

Mileage

87,792 mi
Last recorded87,792 miles
Recorded on12 May 2026
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

RegistrationPUA 281L
MakeLotus
ModelElan
Year1972
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

6 pass
Pass 12 May 2026 87,792 miles
Pass 2 Sep 2025 87,729 miles
Pass 7 May 2024 87,463 miles
Pass 19 Mar 2024 87,435 miles
Pass 23 Mar 2023 86,837 miles
Pass 24 Mar 2022 85,891 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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PUA 281L is a 1972 Lotus Elan in Red with a 1,558cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 6 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 100%.

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 performed better than the average for its year.

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 PUA 281L, 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 PUA 281L?

You can check the full history of PUA 281L by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was PUA 281L registered?

PUA 281L is a 1972 Lotus Elan, first registered on 24 October 1972.

Is PUA 281L safe to buy?

The MOT history for PUA 281L shows 6 tests with a 100% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does PUA 281L 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 PUA 281L. 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.