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YHW 973V

1979 Triumph Spitfire

Red Petrol 1493cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires3 Apr 2027
Tests34 (19 pass, 15 fail)
Pass rate55.9%

Mileage

43,182 mi
Last recorded43,182 miles
Recorded on25 Mar 2026
Typical for 1979 Triumph Spitfire60,846 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Triumph
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Finance
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationYHW 973V
MakeTriumph
ModelSpitfire
Year1979
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

19 pass 15 fail
Pass 25 Mar 2026 43,182 miles
Pass 4 Apr 2025 41,753 miles
Fail 1 Apr 2025 41,752 miles

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Front Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Pass 27 Feb 2024 39,684 miles
Fail 27 Feb 2024 39,684 miles

Nearside Rear Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 9 Mar 2023 38,148 miles
Fail 9 Mar 2023 38,147 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (8.2.1.2 (b))

Nearside Front Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Pass 15 Mar 2022 37,155 miles
Fail 15 Mar 2022 37,155 miles

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Pass 8 Mar 2021 35,078 miles
Fail 5 Mar 2021 35,077 miles

Oil leaking excessively from engine (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Offside Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Offside Rear Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Pass 12 Sep 2018 31,050 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Fail 11 Sep 2018 31,050 miles

Brake lever has insufficient reserve travel (1.1.2 (a))

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (8.2.1.2 (b))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 12 Sep 2017 29,368 miles

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Pass 12 Sep 2016 28,358 miles
Fail 8 Sep 2016 28,357 miles

Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Parking brake lever insecure (3.1.3b)

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Pass 25 Aug 2015 25,446 miles
Fail 24 Aug 2015 25,445 miles

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

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Steering system has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel (steering rack fitted) (2.2.A.1b)

Pass 30 Aug 2014 23,273 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

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

Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

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

Oil leak

Fail 30 Aug 2014 23,273 miles

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

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

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

Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

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

Oil leak

Pass 21 Aug 2013 21,223 miles

o/s handbrake reading low

travel handbrake

Pass 9 Aug 2012 20,148 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)

Pass 25 Aug 2011 17,538 miles

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

Fail 23 Aug 2011 17,531 miles

Offside Rear Brake hose leaking (3.6.A.1)

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

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

Pass 23 Aug 2010 15,904 miles
Pass 20 Aug 2009 12,257 miles

Nearside outer track rod end joint cover split/missing

Oil leak

both steering rack gaiters deteriorating

slight bind to both rear brakes

Pass 27 Aug 2008 10,001 miles

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

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

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

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

Fail 26 Aug 2008 9,991 miles

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

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

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

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

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

Fail 1 Aug 2008 9,978 miles

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

Front passenger seat cannot be secured in the upright position. (6.2.4)

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

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

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

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

Front Seat belt damaged but not affecting the operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

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

drivers seat loose

engine fan belt worn

indicators flashing slowly

steering rack covered in oil causing movement on bushes- not excessive at the moment

Pass 10 Aug 2007 8,097 miles
Fail 30 Jul 2007 8,093 miles

Nearside Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Nearside Rear Brake relay lever has restricted free movement (3.5.1k)

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Offside Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Offside Lower Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

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

Offside Seat belt damaged sufficient to obstruct correct operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Nearside rear brake binding (3.7.B.1) DANGEROUS

Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a) DANGEROUS

Nearside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a) DANGEROUS

Offside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a) DANGEROUS

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b) DANGEROUS

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

rear brake application uneven (3.7.B.2) DANGEROUS

rear brakes release unevenly (3.7.B.4) DANGEROUS

Brake master cylinder/servo mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (3.6.C.3)

Nearside Seat belt damaged but not affecting the operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

Pass 3 Aug 2006 3,421 miles
Fail 21 Jul 2006 3,405 miles

Brake pedal has insufficient reserve movement (3.3.A.5)

Brake pedal spongy (3.3.B.1b)

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

Nearside Front Brake pipe leaking (3.6.A.1)

Nearside Front Seat belt retracting mechanism defective (5.2.5b)

Nearside Front passenger seat cannot be secured in the upright position. (6.2.4)

Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

Nearside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

rear brake application uneven (3.7.B.2)

Nearside Rear Rear position lamp(s) slightly affected by the operation of another lamp (1.1.A.3f)

Offside Rear Rear position lamp(s) slightly affected by the operation of another lamp (1.1.A.3f)

Fail 5 Jul 2006 3,395 miles

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

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

Nearside Front Direction indicator flashing less than 60 times a minute (1.4.A.2g)

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

Offside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

oil leak

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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YHW 973V is a 1979 Triumph Spitfire in Red with a 1,493cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 34 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 55.9%.

Across all 1979 Triumph Spitfire models, the average MOT pass rate is 70.2% with a typical mileage of 60,846 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 YHW 973V, 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 47 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 YHW 973V?

You can check the full history of YHW 973V by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was YHW 973V registered?

YHW 973V is a 1979 Triumph Spitfire, first registered on 9 October 1979.

Is YHW 973V safe to buy?

The MOT history for YHW 973V shows 34 tests with a 55.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does YHW 973V 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 YHW 973V. 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.