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R61 TRA

1997 Lotus Esprit

Red Petrol 3506cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires11 Sep 2026
Tests21 (20 pass, 1 fail)
Pass rate95.2%

Mileage

77,256 mi
Last recorded77,256 miles
Recorded on8 Sep 2025
Typical for 1997 Lotus Esprit46,303 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationR61 TRA
MakeLotus
ModelEsprit
Year1997
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine3,506cc

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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 1 fail
Pass 8 Sep 2025 77,256 miles

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Nearside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 12 Sep 2024 75,416 miles
Pass 9 May 2023 74,672 miles
Pass 27 May 2022 71,902 miles
Pass 17 May 2021 69,522 miles
Pass 13 Oct 2020 68,477 miles
Pass 12 Oct 2019 66,393 miles
Pass 16 Oct 2018 63,791 miles
Pass 30 Oct 2017 61,240 miles
Pass 18 Oct 2016 59,104 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Pass 5 Oct 2015 55,491 miles
Pass 6 Oct 2014 53,358 miles

Centre Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Pass 16 Oct 2013 51,359 miles

Brake pipes corroding in places

Pass 3 Oct 2012 49,872 miles
Pass 11 Oct 2011 47,629 miles
Fail 11 Oct 2011 47,629 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp excessively deteriorated so that the light output is severely reduced (1.7.5a)

Offside Front Headlamp excessively deteriorated so that the light output is severely reduced (1.7.5a)

Offside Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 6 Oct 2010 44,786 miles
Pass 23 Oct 2009 43,071 miles

Offside Front Lower Anti-roll bar attachment bracket/mounting worn but its strength is not seriously reduced (2.4.G.1)

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

Pass 23 Oct 2008 41,042 miles
Pass 23 Oct 2007 39,289 miles
Pass 23 Oct 2006 35,738 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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R61 TRA is a 1997 Lotus Esprit in Red with a 3,506cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 21 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 95.2%.

Across all 1997 Lotus Esprit models, the average MOT pass rate is 82.4% with a typical mileage of 46,303 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 R61 TRA, 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 29 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 R61 TRA?

You can check the full history of R61 TRA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R61 TRA registered?

R61 TRA is a 1997 Lotus Esprit, first registered on 28 November 1997.

Is R61 TRA safe to buy?

The MOT history for R61 TRA shows 21 tests with a 95.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R61 TRA 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 R61 TRA. 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.