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Q45JFC

1989 Caterham Seven (S3)

Red Petrol 1691cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires30 Oct 2026
Tests22 (21 pass, 1 fail)
Pass rate95.5%

Mileage

35,505 mi
Last recorded35,505 miles
Recorded on24 Oct 2025
Typical for 1989 Caterham Seven (S3)20,870 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationQ45JFC
MakeCaterham
ModelSeven (S3)
Year1989
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,691cc

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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

21 pass 1 fail
Pass 24 Oct 2025 35,505 miles

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Windscreen wiper blade defective (3.4 (b) (i))

Pass 29 Oct 2024 35,389 miles
Pass 27 Oct 2023 35,155 miles
Pass 31 Oct 2022 34,869 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 15 Oct 2021 34,519 miles

Nearside Rear Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Pass 6 Oct 2020 34,202 miles
Pass 4 Oct 2019 33,988 miles

Nearside Rear Outer Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 1 Oct 2018 33,501 miles
Pass 8 Sep 2017 33,035 miles

centre diff mount bush worn

Pass 10 Sep 2016 32,114 miles
Pass 26 Sep 2015 31,745 miles
Pass 9 Aug 2014 31,296 miles
Pass 7 Aug 2013 30,453 miles
Pass 6 Aug 2012 29,726 miles
Pass 3 Aug 2011 28,696 miles
Fail 7 Aug 2010 27,041 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.1a)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Pass 7 Aug 2010 27,041 miles
Pass 3 Aug 2009 24,580 miles
Pass 7 Aug 2008 22,554 miles
Pass 7 Aug 2007 19,664 miles
Pass 11 Aug 2006 15,053 miles

ENGINE HAS BAD OIL LEAK

Pass 9 Sep 2005 14,732 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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Q45JFC is a 1989 Caterham Seven (S3) in Red with a 1,691cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 22 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 95.5%.

Across all 1989 Caterham Seven (S3) models, the average MOT pass rate is 87.5% with a typical mileage of 20,870 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 Q45JFC, 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 37 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 Q45JFC?

You can check the full history of Q45JFC by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was Q45JFC registered?

Q45JFC is a 1989 Caterham Seven (S3), first registered on 1 October 1989.

Is Q45JFC safe to buy?

The MOT history for Q45JFC shows 22 tests with a 95.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does Q45JFC 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 Q45JFC. 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.