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YEV 43L

1973 Lotus Elan +2

Red Petrol 1558cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires11 Aug 2026
Tests22 (15 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate68.2%

Mileage

58,293 mi
Last recorded58,293 miles
Recorded on12 Aug 2025
Typical for 1973 Lotus Elan +238,246 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationYEV 43L
MakeLotus
ModelElan +2
Year1973
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,558cc

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

15 pass 7 fail
Pass 12 Aug 2025 58,293 miles
Pass 24 Jan 2024 58,111 miles
Fail 24 Jan 2024 58,111 miles

Brake pedal anti-slip provision missing (1.1.2 (c))

Pass 27 Mar 2023 57,917 miles
Pass 24 Mar 2022 56,122 miles
Pass 30 Jun 2017 55,663 miles
Fail 30 Jun 2017 55,663 miles

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 20 Jul 2016 55,432 miles
Pass 19 Jun 2015 55,271 miles

both sides drive shaft rubber couplings deteriorated

Pass 19 Jun 2014 54,889 miles

both sides , front shock absorber top mounting rubbers soft

long hand brake lever travel

slight cracking on both rear inner drive shaft rubber couplings

Fail 11 Jun 2014 54,889 miles

Front Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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 Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Rear Drive shaft uj which forms part of the suspension has a loose flange bolt (2.4.G.4c) DANGEROUS

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

both sides , front shock absorber top mounting rubbers soft

long hand brake lever travel

slight cracking on both rear inner drive shaft rubber couplings

Pass 27 Jul 2013 54,852 miles

Oil leak

Pass 1 Aug 2012 54,515 miles

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

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

slight age cracking on n/s/r tyre

Fail 1 Aug 2012 54,515 miles

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Offside front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

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

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

slight age cracking on n/s/r tyre

Fail 18 Jul 2011 54,325 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

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

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 18 Jul 2011 54,325 miles
Pass 22 Jul 2010 53,835 miles

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

slight age cracking on n/s/r tyre outer side wall -- no cords showing

slight binding on o/s/f brake

Pass 15 Jul 2009 52,976 miles

Oil leak

front anti-roll bar chassis bushes loose in brackets

Fail 9 Jul 2008 52,632 miles

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Pass 9 Jul 2008 52,632 miles
Pass 5 Jul 2007 51,950 miles
Fail 23 Apr 2007 51,938 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing has excessive play (2.6.2) DANGEROUS

Offside Front front brake binding (3.7.B.1) DANGEROUS

How Reliable is the Lotus Elan +2?

Based on 1,562 MOT tests across 197 vehicles.

83.1%
Pass Rate
480
Miles/Year
59
Year Lifespan
197
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 61
parking brake recording little or no effort 42
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 41
Headlamp not working on dipped beam 35
Stop lamp not working 32
Full Lotus Elan +2 reliability report

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YEV 43L is a 1973 Lotus Elan +2 in Red with a 1,558cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 22 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 68.2%.

Across all 1973 Lotus Elan +2 models, the average MOT pass rate is 84.8% with a typical mileage of 38,246 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 +2 fails its MOT is parking brake: efficiency below requirements, accounting for 61 recorded failures. If you're considering buying YEV 43L, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Lotus Elan +2 typically stays on UK roads for around 59 years. At 53 years old, this Lotus Elan +2 is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of YEV 43L?

You can check the full history of YEV 43L by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was YEV 43L registered?

YEV 43L is a 1973 Lotus Elan +2, first registered on 5 March 1973.

Is YEV 43L safe to buy?

The MOT history for YEV 43L shows 22 tests with a 68.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does YEV 43L 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 YEV 43L. 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.