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VTM 22W

1981 Lotus Esprit

Blue Petrol 2174cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires6 Aug 2026
Tests10 (7 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate70%

Mileage

51,304 mi
Last recorded51,304 miles
Recorded on7 Aug 2025
Typical for 1981 Lotus Esprit54,457 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

RegistrationVTM 22W
MakeLotus
ModelEsprit
Year1981
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,174cc

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

7 pass 3 fail
Pass 7 Aug 2025 51,304 miles
Fail 7 Aug 2025 51,304 miles

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Pass 12 Jul 2024 51,278 miles
Pass 20 Oct 2022 51,250 miles
Pass 9 Apr 2021 51,232 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 10 Feb 2020 51,231 miles
Fail 10 Feb 2020 51,231 miles

Front Lower Steering linkage likely to become detached (2.1.3 (a) (ii))

Pass 28 Mar 2019 51,230 miles
Pass 12 Jul 2017 51,192 miles
Fail 12 Jul 2017 51,191 miles

Nearside Front Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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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VTM 22W is a 1981 Lotus Esprit in Blue with a 2,174cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 10 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 70%.

Across all 1981 Lotus Esprit models, the average MOT pass rate is 81.9% with a typical mileage of 54,457 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 VTM 22W, 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 45 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 VTM 22W?

You can check the full history of VTM 22W by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was VTM 22W registered?

VTM 22W is a 1981 Lotus Esprit, first registered on 26 January 1981.

Is VTM 22W safe to buy?

The MOT history for VTM 22W shows 10 tests with a 70% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does VTM 22W 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 VTM 22W. 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.