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SLA 851L

1973 Volkswagen Beetle

Orange Petrol 1300cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires14 Apr 2027
Tests13 (11 pass, 2 fail)
Pass rate84.6%

Mileage

85,458 mi
Last recorded85,458 miles
Recorded on15 Apr 2026
Typical for 1973 Volkswagen Beetle46,746 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationSLA 851L
MakeVolkswagen
ModelBeetle
Year1973
ColourOrange
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,300cc

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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

11 pass 2 fail
Pass 15 Apr 2026 85,458 miles
Pass 8 May 2017 78,760 miles
Pass 9 May 2016 77,761 miles
Pass 21 Apr 2015 75,853 miles
Pass 4 Apr 2014 74,175 miles
Pass 15 Apr 2013 71,740 miles
Pass 16 Apr 2012 70,002 miles
Pass 7 Apr 2011 67,501 miles
Pass 15 Apr 2010 62,243 miles
Pass 15 Apr 2009 61,899 miles

brake pedal spongy

fuel pipes under bonnet slightly corroded

slight up and down play in both front wheels suspect in wheel bearing may need adjustment

Fail 2 Apr 2009 61,895 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim aimed so that it dazzles other road users (1.8.A.1a)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f) DANGEROUS

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Rear Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

brake pedal spongy

fuel pipes under bonnet slightly corroded

slight up and down play in both front wheels suspect in wheel bearing may need adjustment

Pass 7 Apr 2008 61,895 miles
Fail 4 Apr 2008 61,895 miles

Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

How Reliable is the Volkswagen Beetle?

Based on 1,719,137 MOT tests across 112,454 vehicles.

71.7%
Pass Rate
4,798
Miles/Year
56
Year Lifespan
112,454
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 44,561
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 33,096
Stop lamp not working 28,079
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 27,964
Headlamp not working on dipped beam 23,197
Full Volkswagen Beetle reliability report

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SLA 851L is a 1973 Volkswagen Beetle in Orange with a 1,300cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 13 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 84.6%.

Across all 1973 Volkswagen Beetle models, the average MOT pass rate is 65.7% with a typical mileage of 46,746 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Volkswagen Beetle fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 44,561 recorded failures. If you're considering buying SLA 851L, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Volkswagen Beetle typically stays on UK roads for around 56 years. At 53 years old, this Volkswagen Beetle is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of SLA 851L?

You can check the full history of SLA 851L by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was SLA 851L registered?

SLA 851L is a 1973 Volkswagen Beetle, first registered on 2 July 1973.

Is SLA 851L safe to buy?

The MOT history for SLA 851L shows 13 tests with a 84.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does SLA 851L 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 SLA 851L. 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.