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TSS 183L

1972 Lotus Elan

Red Petrol 1588cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires14 May 2026
Tests20 (16 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate80%

Mileage

92,070 mi
Last recorded92,070 miles
Recorded on29 Apr 2025
Typical for 1972 Lotus Elan52,454 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationTSS 183L
MakeLotus
ModelElan
Year1972
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,588cc

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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

16 pass 4 fail
Pass 29 Apr 2025 92,070 miles
Pass 19 Apr 2024 91,035 miles
Pass 15 May 2023 90,795 miles
Fail 12 May 2023 90,795 miles

Nearside Rear Outer Brake pad(s) missing (1.1.13 (c)) DANGEROUS

Pass 4 Nov 2021 90,365 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Front and rear pipes slightly corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Engine mounting damaged but not to excess Slightly deteriorated (6.1.8 (a) (i))

Pass 9 May 2017 87,261 miles
Fail 25 Apr 2017 87,261 miles

Nearside Front coil spring broken (2.4.C.1a)

Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Pass 26 Apr 2016 85,705 miles
Pass 21 Apr 2015 84,375 miles

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

Oil leak

Pass 29 Apr 2014 82,327 miles
Pass 30 Apr 2013 80,773 miles
Pass 19 Apr 2012 76,963 miles
Pass 19 Apr 2011 73,894 miles
Pass 13 May 2010 72,889 miles
Pass 19 May 2009 72,227 miles
Pass 2 Jul 2008 71,541 miles
Pass 5 Jun 2007 70,887 miles
Fail 2 Jun 2007 70,886 miles

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

Pass 13 May 2006 69,663 miles
Fail 13 May 2006 69,663 miles

Nearside Front Braking system leaking (3.6.A.1)

How Reliable is the Lotus Elan?

Based on 51,097 MOT tests across 4,280 vehicles.

77.4%
Pass Rate
554
Miles/Year
59
Year Lifespan
4,280
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 2,585
brake recording little or no effort 1,342
parking brake recording little or no effort 1,318
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 927
brake binding 845
Full Lotus Elan reliability report

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TSS 183L is a 1972 Lotus Elan in Red with a 1,588cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 20 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 80%.

Across all 1972 Lotus Elan models, the average MOT pass rate is 82.8% with a typical mileage of 52,454 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 Elan fails its MOT is parking brake: efficiency below requirements, accounting for 2,585 recorded failures. If you're considering buying TSS 183L, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Lotus Elan typically stays on UK roads for around 59 years. At 54 years old, this Lotus Elan is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of TSS 183L?

You can check the full history of TSS 183L by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was TSS 183L registered?

TSS 183L is a 1972 Lotus Elan, first registered on 25 August 1972.

Is TSS 183L safe to buy?

The MOT history for TSS 183L shows 20 tests with a 80% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does TSS 183L 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 TSS 183L. 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.