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RCL 916J

1971 Lotus Elan

Yellow Petrol 1558cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires2 Jun 2018
Tests11 (7 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate63.6%

Mileage

97,567 mi
Last recorded97,567 miles
Recorded on12 May 2017
Typical for 1971 Lotus Elan49,460 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationRCL 916J
MakeLotus
ModelElan
Year1971
ColourYellow
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,558cc

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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

7 pass 4 fail
Pass 12 May 2017 97,567 miles
Pass 3 Jun 2016 96,964 miles

Rear wheel bearing has slight play both (2.6.2)

Tyre worn close to the legal limit both front (4.1.E.1)

oil leak

Fail 7 May 2015 96,738 miles

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Oil leak

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

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

front tyre treads wearing on inner edge

nearside front brake binding slightly

Pass 7 May 2015 96,738 miles

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Oil leak

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

front tyre treads wearing on inner edge

nearside front brake binding slightly

Pass 9 May 2014 92,545 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Fail 8 May 2014 92,529 miles

Brake pedal anti-slip provision missing (3.3.A.1b)

Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

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

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Pass 15 May 2013 88,922 miles

Exhaust emits blue smoke during acceleration (7.3.A.2c)

Offside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Oil leak

Fail 13 May 2013 88,918 miles

Battery insecure (1.9.1)

Front Windscreen wiper not operating automatically when switched on (8.2.1b)

Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Exhaust emits blue smoke during acceleration (7.3.A.2c)

Offside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Oil leak

Pass 25 May 2006 87,777 miles
Fail 23 May 2006 87,777 miles

Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Pass 6 Jul 2005 83,223 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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RCL 916J is a 1971 Lotus Elan in Yellow with a 1,558cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 11 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 63.6%.

Across all 1971 Lotus Elan models, the average MOT pass rate is 85.9% with a typical mileage of 49,460 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 Elan fails its MOT is parking brake: efficiency below requirements, accounting for 2,585 recorded failures. If you're considering buying RCL 916J, 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 55 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 RCL 916J?

You can check the full history of RCL 916J by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was RCL 916J registered?

RCL 916J is a 1971 Lotus Elan, first registered on 15 April 1971.

Is RCL 916J safe to buy?

The MOT history for RCL 916J shows 11 tests with a 63.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does RCL 916J 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 RCL 916J. 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.