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BKU 553L

1973 Lotus Elan

Brown Petrol 1558cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires31 Oct 2026
Tests21 (21 pass, 0 fail)
Pass rate100%

Mileage

13,586 mi
Last recorded13,586 miles
Recorded on3 Oct 2025
Typical for 1973 Lotus Elan50,618 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

RegistrationBKU 553L
MakeLotus
ModelElan
Year1973
ColourBrown
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

21 pass
Pass 3 Oct 2025 13,586 miles
Pass 24 Oct 2024 12,868 miles
Pass 1 Nov 2023 12,279 miles
Pass 13 Oct 2022 11,451 miles
Pass 24 Aug 2021 10,598 miles
Pass 17 Sep 2020 10,057 miles
Pass 1 Oct 2019 9,648 miles
Pass 18 Sep 2018 8,569 miles
Pass 25 Oct 2017 7,706 miles
Pass 23 Aug 2016 6,469 miles
Pass 14 Sep 2015 5,498 miles

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

Pass 16 Oct 2014 4,634 miles
Pass 8 Oct 2013 3,977 miles
Pass 10 Oct 2012 3,445 miles
Pass 11 Oct 2011 2,582 miles
Pass 29 Sep 2010 1,704 miles
Pass 29 Sep 2009 1,245 miles
Pass 4 Nov 2008 1,041 miles
Pass 15 Nov 2007 573 miles
Pass 21 Nov 2006 209 miles
Pass 2 Dec 2005 99,943 miles

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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BKU 553L is a 1973 Lotus Elan in Brown with a 1,558cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 21 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 100%.

Across all 1973 Lotus Elan models, the average MOT pass rate is 83.2% with a typical mileage of 50,618 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

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 BKU 553L, 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 53 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 BKU 553L?

You can check the full history of BKU 553L by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was BKU 553L registered?

BKU 553L is a 1973 Lotus Elan, first registered on 3 April 1973.

Is BKU 553L safe to buy?

The MOT history for BKU 553L shows 21 tests with a 100% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does BKU 553L 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 BKU 553L. 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.