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R261 JPC

1997 Lotus Elise

Silver Petrol 1796cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires21 Apr 2027
Tests17 (13 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate76.5%

Mileage

65,843 mi
Last recorded65,843 miles
Recorded on30 Mar 2026
Typical for 1997 Lotus Elise47,496 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationR261 JPC
MakeLotus
ModelElise
Year1997
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,796cc

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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

13 pass 4 fail
Pass 30 Mar 2026 65,843 miles

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material as marked (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Pass 7 Apr 2025 65,706 miles

Offside Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Pass 11 Apr 2024 65,386 miles
Fail 8 Apr 2024 65,375 miles

Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 22 Apr 2023 65,106 miles
Fail 8 Apr 2023 65,097 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm attachment bracket/mounting insecure bolts that hold lower ball joint to hub loose marked in yellow (5.3.3 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

Pass 14 Mar 2022 64,481 miles
Pass 4 Dec 2020 63,202 miles
Pass 5 Jul 2013 62,494 miles

Centre Stop lamp has light sources not illuminating, but not more than 50% (1.2.1b)

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Fail 29 Jun 2013 62,489 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Centre Stop lamp has light sources not illuminating, but not more than 50% (1.2.1b)

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Pass 16 Jun 2012 60,830 miles
Pass 3 Jun 2011 57,974 miles
Fail 14 May 2011 57,906 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Registration plate lamp not illuminating the registration plate (1.1.C.1e)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Pass 24 May 2010 56,550 miles
Pass 16 May 2009 54,718 miles

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

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

all suspension components are badly corroded

Pass 10 May 2008 52,643 miles
Pass 22 May 2007 50,107 miles

How Reliable is the Lotus Elise?

Based on 150,954 MOT tests across 12,302 vehicles.

81.8%
Pass Rate
1,309
Miles/Year
30
Year Lifespan
12,302
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive 3,173
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 3,131
Headlamp aim too high 3,014
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits 2,630
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive 1,898
Full Lotus Elise reliability report

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R261 JPC is a 1997 Lotus Elise in Silver with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 17 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 76.5%.

Across all 1997 Lotus Elise models, the average MOT pass rate is 78.3% with a typical mileage of 47,496 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 Elise fails its MOT is exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive, accounting for 3,173 recorded failures. If you're considering buying R261 JPC, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Lotus Elise typically stays on UK roads for around 30 years. At 29 years old, this Lotus Elise is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of R261 JPC?

You can check the full history of R261 JPC by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R261 JPC registered?

R261 JPC is a 1997 Lotus Elise, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is R261 JPC safe to buy?

The MOT history for R261 JPC shows 17 tests with a 76.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R261 JPC 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 R261 JPC. 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.