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SWS 18S

1978 Lotus Esprit

Black Petrol 1973cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires1 Oct 2020
Tests8 (4 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate50%

Mileage

342 mi
Last recorded342 miles
Recorded on2 Apr 2019
Typical for 1978 Lotus Esprit57,482 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

RegistrationSWS 18S
MakeLotus
ModelEsprit
Year1978
ColourBlack
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,973cc

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

4 pass 4 fail
Pass 2 Apr 2019 342 miles

looks like its used as a track car/race car

Pass 8 Mar 2018 187 miles

Offside Front Inner Anti-roll bar synthetic bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Fail 8 Mar 2018 187 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Nearside Headlamp aim not tested (1.8.A.1c)

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Registration plate lamp shows direct white light to the rear (1.1.C.1f)

Offside Headlamp aim not tested (1.8.A.1c)

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Registration plate lamp insecure (1.1.C.1c)

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

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Front Inner Anti-roll bar synthetic bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Fail 26 Jan 2017 187 miles

Headlamp not working on dipped beam both (1.7.5a)

Headlamp not working on main beam both (1.7.5a)

Nearside Inner Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Outer Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has excessive play (2.6.2)

Nearside rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Offside Headlamp excessively deteriorated so that the light output is severely reduced both (1.7.5a)

Offside Rear brake disc contaminated by oil (3.5.1h)

Offside Rear wheel bearing has excessive play (2.6.2)

Nearside Front Passenger seat(s) missing at time of test ()

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Offside Front Inner Anti-roll bar synthetic bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Pass 3 Jul 2013 185 miles
Fail 17 May 2012 185 miles

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

Front Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Front registration plate missing (6.3.1a)

Nearside Front Statutory seat belt of the wrong type. (5.1.1)

Offside Front Statutory seat belt of the wrong type. (5.1.1)

Rear Exhaust noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar vehicle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition (7.1.4)

Rear Registration plate lamp not fitted (1.1.C.1b)

Rear registration plate missing (6.3.1a)

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

Front Anti-roll bar synthetic bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

No fog light fitted

Oil leak

Pass 29 Nov 2005 62,736 miles

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

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

Fail 29 Nov 2005 62,736 miles

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

Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Front Headlamps matched pair are incorrectly positioned (1.7.3)

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

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
Full Lotus Esprit reliability report

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SWS 18S is a 1978 Lotus Esprit in Black with a 1,973cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 8 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 50%.

Across all 1978 Lotus Esprit models, the average MOT pass rate is 74.5% with a typical mileage of 57,482 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 Esprit fails its MOT is parking brake: efficiency below requirements, accounting for 624 recorded failures. If you're considering buying SWS 18S, 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 48 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 SWS 18S?

You can check the full history of SWS 18S by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was SWS 18S registered?

SWS 18S is a 1978 Lotus Esprit, first registered on 16 May 1978.

Is SWS 18S safe to buy?

The MOT history for SWS 18S shows 8 tests with a 50% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does SWS 18S 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 SWS 18S. 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.