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SWU 499W

1981 Triumph Spitfire

Red Petrol 1493cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires27 Apr 2022
Tests21 (12 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate57.1%

Mileage

91,668 mi
Last recorded91,668 miles
Recorded on28 Apr 2021
Typical for 1981 Triumph Spitfire60,380 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationSWU 499W
MakeTriumph
ModelSpitfire
Year1981
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,493cc

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

12 pass 9 fail
Pass 28 Apr 2021 91,668 miles

Nearside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Fail 28 Apr 2021 91,668 miles

Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Pass 3 Apr 2020 91,623 miles

Nearside Front Integral body structure or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Nearside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Inner arch corroded

Offside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Outer Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Fail 30 Mar 2020 91,623 miles

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive (8.2.1.2 (b))

Offside Rear Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Nearside Front Integral body structure or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Nearside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Inner arch corroded

Offside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Outer Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 24 Apr 2019 90,355 miles

Nearside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Offside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Pass 12 Apr 2018 90,271 miles
Pass 3 Apr 2017 89,564 miles
Fail 3 Apr 2017 89,564 miles

Offside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.5.A.2)

Fail 3 Apr 2017 89,564 miles

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

Offside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.5.A.2)

Pass 25 Apr 2016 88,369 miles

Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

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

Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Pass 16 Apr 2015 86,922 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a track control arm inner bush (2.5.B.2b)

Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

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

Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Fail 16 Apr 2015 86,922 miles

Battery insecure (1.9.1)

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a track control arm inner bush (2.5.B.2b)

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

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Pass 7 Apr 2014 84,975 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a track control arm inner bush (2.5.B.2b)

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

Pass 4 Apr 2013 83,126 miles

Steering column top bearing slightly worn (2.1.2c)

Fail 4 Apr 2013 83,126 miles

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Steering wheel locking device insecure (2.1.6)

Steering column top bearing slightly worn (2.1.2c)

Pass 24 Apr 2012 81,536 miles

Steering column top bearing slightly worn (2.1.2c)

Fail 16 Apr 2012 81,536 miles

Brake pedal creeps down while the pedal is held under pressure (3.3.B.1a)

Driver's seat insecure (6.2.A.1)

Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

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

Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

Offside Inner Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Steering column top bearing slightly worn (2.1.2c)

Pass 28 Apr 2011 79,578 miles
Fail 8 Apr 2011 79,578 miles

Brake performance not tested (3.7.A.1)

Driver's seat cannot be secured in the upright position. (6.2.A.2)

Nearside Rear Mechanical brake component has restricted free movement (3.5.1k)

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

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

Pass 29 Jul 2009 79,322 miles
Fail 24 Jul 2009 79,317 miles

Brake performance not tested (3.7.A.1)

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

Front Direction indicator adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (1.4.A.2h)

Nearside Rear Wheel nut(s) missing (4.2.A.1e)

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Nearside rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

Rear Direction indicator adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (1.4.A.2h)

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

How Reliable is the Triumph Spitfire?

Based on 69,541 MOT tests across 8,423 vehicles.

72.5%
Pass Rate
302
Miles/Year
63
Year Lifespan
8,423
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 4,320
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 2,718
brake binding 2,431
Stop lamp not working 2,126
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 1,894
Full Triumph Spitfire reliability report

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SWU 499W is a 1981 Triumph Spitfire in Red with a 1,493cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 21 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 57.1%.

Across all 1981 Triumph Spitfire models, the average MOT pass rate is 72.1% with a typical mileage of 60,380 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 Triumph Spitfire fails its MOT is parking brake: efficiency below requirements, accounting for 4,320 recorded failures. If you're considering buying SWU 499W, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Triumph Spitfire typically stays on UK roads for around 63 years. At 45 years old, this Triumph Spitfire is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of SWU 499W?

You can check the full history of SWU 499W by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was SWU 499W registered?

SWU 499W is a 1981 Triumph Spitfire, first registered on 2 March 1981.

Is SWU 499W safe to buy?

The MOT history for SWU 499W shows 21 tests with a 57.1% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does SWU 499W 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 SWU 499W. 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.