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E597 HCP

1988 Lotus Esprit

Red Petrol 2174cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires16 Feb 2027
Tests31 (20 pass, 11 fail)
Pass rate64.5%

Mileage

12,115 mi
Last recorded12,115 miles
Recorded on17 Feb 2026
Typical for 1988 Lotus Esprit57,107 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

RegistrationE597 HCP
MakeLotus
ModelEsprit
Year1988
ColourRed
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

20 pass 11 fail
Pass 17 Feb 2026 12,115 miles
Pass 23 Dec 2024 11,304 miles

Nearside Front tyre slightly out of shape

Offside Front tyre slightly out of shape

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 7 Nov 2023 9,642 miles
Pass 8 Nov 2022 9,575 miles

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

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

Pass 30 Nov 2021 9,467 miles

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Fail 19 Nov 2021 9,379 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Offside Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

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

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 20 Nov 2020 8,814 miles
Pass 1 May 2019 8,615 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear metal brake pipe (1.1.11 (c))

Fail 1 May 2019 8,615 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear metal brake pipe (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Pass 10 May 2018 8,383 miles

Brake pipe slightly corroded from front to rear of vehicle (3.6.B.2c)

Pass 12 May 2017 8,002 miles
Fail 12 May 2017 8,002 miles

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

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 11 May 2016 7,406 miles
Fail 11 May 2016 7,406 miles

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Pass 7 May 2015 6,587 miles
Pass 7 May 2014 5,808 miles
Pass 26 Apr 2013 4,746 miles
Fail 3 May 2012 3,412 miles

Offside rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Pass 3 May 2012 3,412 miles
Pass 28 Apr 2011 2,513 miles
Fail 28 Apr 2011 2,513 miles

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Fail 7 May 2010 680 miles

Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

Front coil spring corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened (2.4.C.1b)

Rear coil spring corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened (2.4.C.1b)

Pass 7 May 2010 680 miles
Pass 6 May 2009 99,250 miles

car registered blip computer re registered 11 10

Fail 6 May 2009 14,148 miles

Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Nearside Rear Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Vehicle structure excessively corroded within 30cm of towbar mounting (6.6.6)

Pass 9 May 2008 97,859 miles
Fail 9 May 2008 97,859 miles

Nearside Tie bar/rod locating pin retaining device missing (2.4.G.3b)

Pass 1 May 2007 95,746 miles
Fail 1 May 2007 95,746 miles

Front Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated (8.2.2)

Nearside Front All position lamps not working (1.1.A.3b)

Fail 2 May 2006 94,204 miles

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Pass 2 May 2006 94,204 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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E597 HCP is a 1988 Lotus Esprit in Red with a 2,174cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 31 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 64.5%.

Across all 1988 Lotus Esprit models, the average MOT pass rate is 77.5% with a typical mileage of 57,107 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 E597 HCP, 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 38 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 E597 HCP?

You can check the full history of E597 HCP by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was E597 HCP registered?

E597 HCP is a 1988 Lotus Esprit, first registered on 13 January 1988.

Is E597 HCP safe to buy?

The MOT history for E597 HCP shows 31 tests with a 64.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does E597 HCP 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 E597 HCP. 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.