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FTB 849J

1971 Lotus Elan

Yellow Petrol 1559cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires15 Oct 2026
Tests5 (4 pass, 1 fail)
Pass rate80%

Mileage

64,092 mi
Last recorded64,092 miles
Recorded on16 Oct 2025
Typical for 1971 Lotus Elan49,460 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationFTB 849J
MakeLotus
ModelElan
Year1971
ColourYellow
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,559cc

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

4 pass 1 fail
Pass 16 Oct 2025 64,092 miles
Fail 16 Oct 2025 64,092 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Pass 16 Oct 2017 62,293 miles
Pass 19 Oct 2016 61,617 miles
Pass 8 Oct 2015 61,126 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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FTB 849J is a 1971 Lotus Elan in Yellow with a 1,559cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 5 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 80%.

Across all 1971 Lotus Elan models, the average MOT pass rate is 85.9% with a typical mileage of 49,460 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 Elan fails its MOT is parking brake: efficiency below requirements, accounting for 2,585 recorded failures. If you're considering buying FTB 849J, 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 55 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 FTB 849J?

You can check the full history of FTB 849J by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was FTB 849J registered?

FTB 849J is a 1971 Lotus Elan, first registered on 21 May 1971.

Is FTB 849J safe to buy?

The MOT history for FTB 849J shows 5 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 FTB 849J 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 FTB 849J. 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.