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ABD 973J

1971 Austin Healey Sprite

Grey Petrol 1275cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires16 Apr 2027
Tests13 (10 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate76.9%

Mileage

13,797 mi
Last recorded13,797 miles
Recorded on17 Apr 2026
Typical for 1971 Austin Healey Sprite34,161 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationABD 973J
MakeAustin Healey
ModelSprite
Year1971
ColourGrey
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,275cc

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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

10 pass 3 fail
Pass 17 Apr 2026 13,797 miles
Pass 4 Jun 2025 13,339 miles
Pass 21 May 2024 12,501 miles
Pass 3 Jul 2017 9,648 miles

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

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

battery cable loose

bonnet hinge bolts loose

Fail 3 Sep 2016 9,644 miles

Battery insecure (1.9.1)

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

Nearside wheel cylinder securing device loose (3.5.1j)

battery cable insecure

Fail 17 Jun 2015 9,638 miles

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

Pass 14 May 2014 9,166 miles
Pass 5 Jun 2013 9,075 miles
Fail 2 Jun 2012 9,073 miles

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

Offside Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

Pass 2 Jun 2012 9,073 miles

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

Pass 20 May 2011 7,984 miles
Pass 5 Jun 2010 6,776 miles

Nearside Front Lower Ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

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

Pass 12 Jun 2009 6,049 miles

How Reliable is the Austin Healey Sprite?

Based on 8,300 MOT tests across 969 vehicles.

80.0%
Pass Rate
246
Miles/Year
68
Year Lifespan
969
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 220
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 214
Stop lamp not working 192
Brakes imbalanced across an axle 149
brake binding 119
Full Austin Healey Sprite reliability report

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ABD 973J is a 1971 Austin Healey Sprite in Grey with a 1,275cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 13 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 76.9%.

Across all 1971 Austin Healey Sprite models, the average MOT pass rate is 78.8% with a typical mileage of 34,161 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 Austin Healey Sprite fails its MOT is parking brake: efficiency below requirements, accounting for 220 recorded failures. If you're considering buying ABD 973J, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Austin Healey Sprite typically stays on UK roads for around 68 years. At 55 years old, this Austin Healey Sprite is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of ABD 973J?

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

What year was ABD 973J registered?

ABD 973J is a 1971 Austin Healey Sprite, first registered on 2 June 1971.

Is ABD 973J safe to buy?

The MOT history for ABD 973J shows 13 tests with a 76.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does ABD 973J 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 ABD 973J. 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.