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SPD 868L

1973 Volkswagen Beetle

Beige Petrol 1300cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires1 Apr 2026
Tests8 (6 pass, 2 fail)
Pass rate75%

Mileage

3,815 mi
Last recorded3,815 miles
Recorded on19 Mar 2025
Typical for 1973 Volkswagen Beetle46,746 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationSPD 868L
MakeVolkswagen
ModelBeetle
Year1973
ColourBeige
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

6 pass 2 fail
Pass 19 Mar 2025 3,815 miles

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing all (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 2 Apr 2024 3,790 miles
Pass 12 Jun 2017 3,706 miles
Pass 3 Jun 2016 3,701 miles

Fuel cap rubber seal slightly split.

Slight play in both rear and N/S front wheel bearings.

Surface corrosion under vehicle.

Under vehicle undersealed.

Fail 2 Jun 2016 3,701 miles

Direction indicators flashing more than 120 times a minute (1.4.A.2g)

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

Nearside Rear position lamp(s) adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (1.1.A.3f)

Nearside Stop lamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (1.2.1f)

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

Offside Rear position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Hydraulic brake cylinder leaking hydraulic fluid (Master cylinder) (3.6.A.1) DANGEROUS

Fuel cap rubber seal slightly split.

Slight play in both rear and N/S front wheel bearings.

Surface corrosion under vehicle.

Under vehicle undersealed.

Pass 16 Jun 2015 3,698 miles
Pass 15 Jul 2014 32,693 miles
Fail 15 Jul 2014 32,693 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Rear Stop lamp remains on when the brakes are released (1.2.1e) DANGEROUS

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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SPD 868L is a 1973 Volkswagen Beetle in Beige with a 1,300cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 8 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 75%.

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 SPD 868L, 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 SPD 868L?

You can check the full history of SPD 868L by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was SPD 868L registered?

SPD 868L is a 1973 Volkswagen Beetle, first registered on 29 January 1973.

Is SPD 868L safe to buy?

The MOT history for SPD 868L shows 8 tests with a 75% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does SPD 868L 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 SPD 868L. 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.