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R985 SJB

1997 Lotus Seven

Red Petrol 1597cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires10 Oct 2026
Tests21 (16 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate76.2%

Mileage

16,133 mi
Last recorded16,133 miles
Recorded on8 Oct 2025
4 checks still locked for this Lotus
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationR985 SJB
MakeLotus
ModelSeven
Year1997
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,597cc

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

16 pass 5 fail
Pass 8 Oct 2025 16,133 miles

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

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

Pass 11 Oct 2024 15,716 miles
Pass 31 Aug 2023 15,242 miles
Pass 20 Aug 2022 14,793 miles
Fail 13 Aug 2022 14,783 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Exhaust hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Pass 26 Jul 2021 13,787 miles
Pass 17 Jul 2020 13,297 miles
Pass 12 Aug 2019 13,184 miles
Pass 25 Jun 2018 12,704 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

The Front Tyres Are On 3mm.

The Reverse Light Is Not Working.

Fail 25 Jun 2018 12,704 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

The Front Tyres Are On 3mm.

The Reverse Light Is Not Working.

Pass 14 Jun 2017 12,156 miles
Pass 8 Jun 2016 11,605 miles

Tyre worn close to the legal limit ALL FOUR (4.1.E.1)

Fail 6 Jun 2016 11,601 miles

Emissions not tested no cat fitted (7.3.A.1)

Tyre worn close to the legal limit ALL FOUR (4.1.E.1)

Pass 9 Aug 2013 11,200 miles
Pass 14 Jun 2011 10,968 miles
Fail 13 Jun 2011 10,765 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

Windscreen has damage to the swept area in excess of a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 30 May 2009 9,787 miles
Pass 18 Jun 2008 7,732 miles

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

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

Fail 11 Jun 2008 7,730 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 18 May 2007 5,385 miles
Pass 26 Apr 2006 3,079 miles

How Reliable is the Lotus Seven?

Based on 1,987 MOT tests across 294 vehicles.

85.8%
Pass Rate
215
Miles/Year
66
Year Lifespan
294
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 50
parking brake recording little or no effort 36
position lamp(s) not working 23
Headlamp not working on main beam 23
brake recording little or no effort 23
Full Lotus Seven reliability report

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R985 SJB is a 1997 Lotus Seven in Red with a 1,597cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 21 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 76.2%.

The most common reason a Lotus Seven fails its MOT is parking brake: efficiency below requirements, accounting for 50 recorded failures. If you're considering buying R985 SJB, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Lotus Seven typically stays on UK roads for around 66 years. At 29 years old, this Lotus Seven is still in the earlier part of its expected life.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of R985 SJB?

You can check the full history of R985 SJB by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R985 SJB registered?

R985 SJB is a 1997 Lotus Seven, first registered on 15 October 1997.

Is R985 SJB safe to buy?

The MOT history for R985 SJB shows 21 tests with a 76.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R985 SJB 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 R985 SJB. 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.