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RUT 361W

1981 Lotus Esprit

Black Petrol 2174cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires3 Jun 2027
Tests20 (17 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate85%

Mileage

27,825 mi
Last recorded27,825 miles
Recorded on4 Jun 2026
Typical for 1981 Lotus Esprit54,457 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationRUT 361W
MakeLotus
ModelEsprit
Year1981
ColourBlack
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,174cc

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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

17 pass 3 fail
Pass 4 Jun 2026 27,825 miles
Pass 22 May 2025 27,518 miles

Nearside Front Drag link end ball joint has slight play inner tie rod (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear slight play in wheel bearing

Pass 30 Aug 2023 27,510 miles
Pass 15 Aug 2022 27,317 miles
Pass 19 Jul 2021 27,282 miles

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

Fail 19 Jul 2021 27,282 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (8.2.1.2 (b))

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive (8.2.1.2 (b))

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

Pass 13 Aug 2020 27,092 miles
Pass 22 May 2019 26,654 miles
Pass 25 May 2018 25,475 miles
Pass 19 May 2017 24,701 miles

Oil leak

rear parking (secondary) brake imbalance requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. application uneven (3.7.B.6b)

Pass 28 May 2016 24,210 miles

Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt omitting grease (2.4.G.2)

Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

oil leaks

rear parking (secondary) brake imbalance requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. 29% (3.7.B.6b)

suspension bushes perishing

Fail 28 May 2016 24,210 miles

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

Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

oil leaks

Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt omitting grease (2.4.G.2)

rear parking (secondary) brake imbalance requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. 29% (3.7.B.6b)

suspension bushes perishing

Pass 6 Mar 2015 23,561 miles
Pass 25 Mar 2014 22,567 miles
Fail 25 Mar 2014 22,567 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Front Headlamp aim too high and too far to the right. (1.8)

Pass 3 Jan 2013 22,150 miles
Pass 18 Jan 2012 20,026 miles
Pass 22 Aug 2007 18,371 miles
Pass 8 Sep 2006 17,579 miles
Pass 9 Sep 2005 17,539 miles

How Reliable is the Lotus Esprit?

Based on 25,410 MOT tests across 2,324 vehicles.

80.6%
Pass Rate
515
Miles/Year
50
Year Lifespan
2,324
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 624
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 464
brake binding 455
parking brake recording little or no effort 332
Headlamp aim too low 326
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RUT 361W is a 1981 Lotus Esprit in Black with a 2,174cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 20 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 85%.

Across all 1981 Lotus Esprit models, the average MOT pass rate is 81.9% with a typical mileage of 54,457 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Lotus Esprit fails its MOT is parking brake: efficiency below requirements, accounting for 624 recorded failures. If you're considering buying RUT 361W, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Lotus Esprit typically stays on UK roads for around 50 years. At 45 years old, this Lotus Esprit is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of RUT 361W?

You can check the full history of RUT 361W by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was RUT 361W registered?

RUT 361W is a 1981 Lotus Esprit, first registered on 31 December 1981.

Is RUT 361W safe to buy?

The MOT history for RUT 361W shows 20 tests with a 85% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does RUT 361W 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 RUT 361W. 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.