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NEL 305W

1981 Triumph Spitfire

Blue Petrol 1493cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires26 Aug 2026
Tests24 (20 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate83.3%

Mileage

14,008 mi
Last recorded14,008 miles
Recorded on27 Aug 2025
Typical for 1981 Triumph Spitfire60,380 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationNEL 305W
MakeTriumph
ModelSpitfire
Year1981
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,493cc

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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 4 fail
Pass 27 Aug 2025 14,008 miles
Pass 3 May 2024 13,248 miles
Fail 30 Apr 2024 13,243 miles

Horn not working (7.7 (a))

Pass 9 May 2023 12,809 miles

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

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

Pass 3 May 2022 12,499 miles
Pass 2 Jun 2021 12,224 miles

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

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

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

Pass 18 Mar 2020 12,056 miles
Pass 13 Mar 2019 11,491 miles

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

Pass 21 Mar 2018 10,945 miles
Pass 22 Mar 2017 10,298 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Oil leak ()

hazard warning switch cover weak

Pass 23 Mar 2016 9,624 miles

OIL LEAKS

Pass 1 Apr 2015 8,843 miles
Fail 31 Mar 2015 8,791 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Oil leak

slight gearbox oil leck

Pass 9 Apr 2014 8,456 miles

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

Pass 30 Apr 2013 8,159 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Oil leak

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Fail 23 Apr 2013 8,059 miles

Offside rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a) DANGEROUS

Offside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a) DANGEROUS

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Oil leak

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 12 Apr 2012 7,527 miles
Pass 21 Apr 2011 7,196 miles
Fail 18 Apr 2011 7,142 miles

Offside rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a) DANGEROUS

Offside Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Pass 21 Apr 2010 6,743 miles

Nearside Front Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Offside Front Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Pass 15 Apr 2009 6,229 miles

Nearside Front Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Pass 15 Apr 2008 5,806 miles
Pass 20 Apr 2007 5,579 miles
Pass 2 May 2006 4,974 miles

How Reliable is the Triumph Spitfire?

Based on 69,541 MOT tests across 8,423 vehicles.

72.5%
Pass Rate
302
Miles/Year
63
Year Lifespan
8,423
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 4,320
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 2,718
brake binding 2,431
Stop lamp not working 2,126
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 1,894
Full Triumph Spitfire reliability report

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NEL 305W is a 1981 Triumph Spitfire in Blue with a 1,493cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 83.3%.

Across all 1981 Triumph Spitfire models, the average MOT pass rate is 72.1% with a typical mileage of 60,380 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Triumph Spitfire fails its MOT is parking brake: efficiency below requirements, accounting for 4,320 recorded failures. If you're considering buying NEL 305W, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Triumph Spitfire typically stays on UK roads for around 63 years. At 45 years old, this Triumph Spitfire is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of NEL 305W?

You can check the full history of NEL 305W by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was NEL 305W registered?

NEL 305W is a 1981 Triumph Spitfire, first registered on 26 January 1981.

Is NEL 305W safe to buy?

The MOT history for NEL 305W shows 24 tests with a 83.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does NEL 305W 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 NEL 305W. 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.