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D955 ELF

1987 Lotus Esprit

Red Petrol 2174cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires26 Jun 2026
Tests22 (18 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate81.8%

Mileage

24,369 mi
Last recorded24,369 miles
Recorded on27 Jun 2025
Typical for 1987 Lotus Esprit48,573 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

RegistrationD955 ELF
MakeLotus
ModelEsprit
Year1987
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,174cc

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MOT History

18 pass 4 fail
Pass 27 Jun 2025 24,369 miles
Pass 18 Oct 2022 24,036 miles

Offside Rear Brake cable damaged but not to excess (1.1.15 (a))

Pass 25 Oct 2021 23,857 miles

covers and under trays fitted

Fail 18 Oct 2021 23,857 miles

Steering system excessively rough (2.1.1 (a))

covers and under trays fitted

Pass 19 Oct 2020 23,313 miles
Pass 16 Oct 2019 22,818 miles
Fail 7 Oct 2019 22,817 miles

Brake pipe excessively corroded front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

centre fan insecure

Pass 11 Sep 2018 20,851 miles

Offside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Pass 31 Aug 2017 18,484 miles
Pass 26 Aug 2016 16,886 miles
Fail 26 Aug 2016 16,886 miles

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Pass 26 Aug 2015 15,453 miles
Pass 4 Sep 2014 12,918 miles

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 3 Sep 2013 10,626 miles

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

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

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

nsf wheel bearing noisy

Pass 31 Aug 2012 9,467 miles

Nearside Outer Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

co high at 3.20 at tickover

offside front wheel bearing noisy

Pass 5 Sep 2011 8,058 miles
Pass 2 Sep 2010 58,719 miles
Pass 1 Sep 2009 3,559 miles
Fail 1 Sep 2009 3,558 miles

Brake pedal anti-slip provision missing (3.3.A.1b)

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Steering system slightly rough (2.2.D.1)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Pass 5 Sep 2008 666 miles
Pass 26 Jul 2007 95,455 miles
Pass 20 Jul 2006 91,992 miles

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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D955 ELF is a 1987 Lotus Esprit in Red with a 2,174cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 22 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 81.8%.

Across all 1987 Lotus Esprit models, the average MOT pass rate is 81.3% with a typical mileage of 48,573 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

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 D955 ELF, 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 39 years old, this Lotus Esprit is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of D955 ELF?

You can check the full history of D955 ELF by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was D955 ELF registered?

D955 ELF is a 1987 Lotus Esprit, first registered on 1 February 1987.

Is D955 ELF safe to buy?

The MOT history for D955 ELF shows 22 tests with a 81.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does D955 ELF 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 D955 ELF. 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.