CarVerify

Free Car Check

D970 GSF

1987 Lotus Esprit

Blue Petrol 2174cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires17 Oct 2026
Tests10 (8 pass, 2 fail)
Pass rate80%

Mileage

26,413 mi
Last recorded26,413 miles
Recorded on30 Sep 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
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationD970 GSF
MakeLotus
ModelEsprit
Year1987
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,174cc

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

8 pass 2 fail
Pass 30 Sep 2025 26,413 miles
Pass 18 Oct 2024 25,233 miles
Fail 14 Oct 2024 25,209 miles

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Pass 25 Oct 2022 23,749 miles
Pass 31 Mar 2022 23,390 miles
Fail 22 Mar 2022 23,390 miles

Emissions not tested Coolant leak (8.2.1.2 (d))

Emissions not tested Coolant leak (8.2.1.2 (d))

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

Nearside Rear Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Offside Rear Outer Drive shaft securing bolt missing (6.1.7 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Outer Drive shaft securing bolt missing (6.1.7 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Pass 24 Jul 2020 23,286 miles

Nearside Rear Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

coolant hoses showing signs of corrosion but not leaking front of vechicle

possible exhaust manifold blow but could not identify has not affected emissions

Pass 29 Mar 2012 23,166 miles
Pass 10 Jul 2009 23,092 miles
Pass 2 Jul 2008 22,937 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

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

D970 GSF is a 1987 Lotus Esprit in Blue with a 2,174cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 10 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 80%.

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 a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

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 D970 GSF, 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 D970 GSF?

You can check the full history of D970 GSF by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was D970 GSF registered?

D970 GSF is a 1987 Lotus Esprit, first registered on 10 March 1987.

Is D970 GSF safe to buy?

The MOT history for D970 GSF shows 10 tests with a 80% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does D970 GSF 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 D970 GSF. 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.