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SAM 838N

1974 Triumph Spitfire

Red Petrol 1296cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires16 Oct 2025
Tests22 (15 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate68.2%

Mileage

75,823 mi
Last recorded75,823 miles
Recorded on17 Oct 2024
Typical for 1974 Triumph Spitfire62,328 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationSAM 838N
MakeTriumph
ModelSpitfire
Year1974
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,296cc

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

15 pass 7 fail
Pass 17 Oct 2024 75,823 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Front floor corroded

Nearside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive Arch (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Pass 18 Jul 2019 75,723 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front floor corroded

Offside Rear Inner arch fractured

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Fail 9 Jul 2019 75,708 miles

Nearside Front Suspension component pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Direction indicator light intensity significantly reduced (4.4.3 (a))

Nearside Rear Position lamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (4.2.3 (c))

Offside Rear Direction indicator light intensity significantly reduced (4.4.3 (a))

Offside Rear Outer Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced sill (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Position lamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (4.2.3 (c))

Offside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front floor corroded

Offside Front Suspension component pin or bush slightly worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Inner arch fractured

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Pass 16 May 2018 75,333 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Nearside Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush (2.5.A.3a)

Nearside Front Body has slight corrosion floor (6.1.B.2)

Offside Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush (2.5.A.3a)

Offside Rear Outer Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive sill (5.2.6)

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive floor (2.4.A.3)

Fail 15 May 2018 75,333 miles

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Rear Direction indicator adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (1.4.A.2h)

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Rear Direction indicator adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (1.4.A.2h)

Battery insecure but not likely to fall from upright position

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Nearside Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush (2.5.A.3a)

Nearside Front Body has slight corrosion floor (6.1.B.2)

Offside Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush (2.5.A.3a)

Offside Rear Outer Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive sill (5.2.6)

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive floor (2.4.A.3)

Pass 10 May 2017 75,117 miles

Nearside Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush (2.5.A.3a)

Nearside Front Body has slight corrosion floor (6.1.B.2)

Offside Rear floor corroded

Fail 9 May 2017 75,117 miles

Central Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

Offside Front Driver's seat insecure floor fractured (6.2.A.1)

Nearside Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush (2.5.A.3a)

Nearside Front Body has slight corrosion floor (6.1.B.2)

Offside Rear floor corroded

Pass 9 May 2016 74,779 miles

nearside front sill distorted

Pass 11 May 2015 74,271 miles

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

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Fail 30 Apr 2015 74,268 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

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

Nearside Rear Direction indicator affected by the operation of another lamp (1.4.A.2h)

Offside Rear Direction indicator affected by the operation of another lamp (1.4.A.2h)

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Pass 23 Apr 2014 73,178 miles

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

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

vehicle underside rusty

Fail 17 Mar 2014 73,174 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Nearside Rear Axle swivel joint has excessive play (2.5.A.3b)

Offside Front Driver's seat fore and aft adjustment mechanism not functioning as intended. (6.2.A.3)

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

Offside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

vehicle underside rusty

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

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Pass 25 Mar 2013 71,493 miles

light corrosion nearside front chassis

oil leaks

slight play in nearside rear trunnion bushes

wipers poor

Pass 20 Feb 2012 70,379 miles
Pass 7 Feb 2011 67,556 miles

Engine and transmission oil leaks.

NSF lower swivel has slight play in.

OS handbrake cable slack.

OSF arb link bush showing wear.

OSF tyre wearing on inner edge.

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Pass 15 Feb 2010 63,573 miles

slight free play at wheel and play at lower steering u.j

surface corrosion offside rear floor

Pass 17 Feb 2009 60,872 miles
Fail 16 Feb 2009 60,872 miles

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

dampness around gearbox and rear diff

handbrake is close to the reserve limit

slight free play at wheel

slight play at lower steering uj

slight top and bottom play at wheel

Fail 9 Feb 2009 60,867 miles

Lower Steering column flexible coupling has excessive play (2.1.5)

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Offside Front Seat belt insecurely fixed to the vehicles structure (5.2.1a)

Offside Rear Lower Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Offside Rear Lower Suspension component mounting prescribed area is inadequately repaired (2.4.A.3)

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is inadequately repaired (5.2.6)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Rear Registration plate lamp not illuminating the registration plate (1.1.C.1e)

Pass 5 Feb 2008 56,946 miles
Pass 5 Feb 2007 53,238 miles
Pass 9 Feb 2006 51,151 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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SAM 838N is a 1974 Triumph Spitfire in Red with a 1,296cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 22 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 68.2%.

Across all 1974 Triumph Spitfire models, the average MOT pass rate is 71.6% with a typical mileage of 62,328 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 Triumph Spitfire fails its MOT is parking brake: efficiency below requirements, accounting for 4,320 recorded failures. If you're considering buying SAM 838N, 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 52 years old, this Triumph Spitfire is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of SAM 838N?

You can check the full history of SAM 838N by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was SAM 838N registered?

SAM 838N is a 1974 Triumph Spitfire, first registered on 5 August 1974.

Is SAM 838N safe to buy?

The MOT history for SAM 838N shows 22 tests with a 68.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does SAM 838N 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 SAM 838N. 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.