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SBW 901X

1981 Triumph Spitfire

Blue Petrol 1493cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires18 Oct 2026
Tests23 (22 pass, 1 fail)
Pass rate95.7%

Mileage

97,780 mi
Last recorded97,780 miles
Recorded on17 Oct 2025
Typical for 1981 Triumph Spitfire60,380 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationSBW 901X
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

22 pass 1 fail
Pass 17 Oct 2025 97,780 miles
Pass 19 Oct 2024 97,725 miles
Pass 12 Oct 2023 97,605 miles
Pass 14 Oct 2022 97,397 miles
Pass 22 Sep 2021 97,235 miles
Pass 23 Sep 2020 97,213 miles

Fluid leak, but not excessive diff pinion seal (8.4.1 (a) (i))

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

Pass 26 Sep 2019 97,049 miles

Handbrake has little reserve travel

Fail 20 Sep 2019 97,042 miles

Nearside Rear Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Handbrake has little reserve travel

Pass 6 Sep 2018 96,230 miles
Pass 7 Sep 2017 95,996 miles

Nearside Front Ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Pass 15 Sep 2016 95,634 miles
Pass 15 Sep 2016 95,634 miles
Pass 15 Sep 2015 94,926 miles

Nearside Front Upper Front suspension has slight deterioration of the bonding between metal and flexible material of an upper support bearing (2.5.B.3a)

Nearside Rear Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

upper trunnion wishbone joint dust cover deteriating

Pass 19 Sep 2014 94,469 miles
Pass 14 Sep 2013 94,048 miles
Pass 15 Sep 2012 93,679 miles
Pass 10 Sep 2011 93,188 miles
Pass 4 Sep 2010 92,896 miles

Offside Inner Ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

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

Pass 8 Aug 2009 92,512 miles
Pass 23 Aug 2008 92,149 miles

Offside Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Pass 18 Aug 2007 91,404 miles
Pass 9 Aug 2006 90,479 miles
Pass 6 Aug 2005 88,917 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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SBW 901X is a 1981 Triumph Spitfire in Blue with a 1,493cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 23 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 95.7%.

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 SBW 901X, 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 SBW 901X?

You can check the full history of SBW 901X by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was SBW 901X registered?

SBW 901X is a 1981 Triumph Spitfire, first registered on 1 August 1981.

Is SBW 901X safe to buy?

The MOT history for SBW 901X shows 23 tests with a 95.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does SBW 901X 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 SBW 901X. 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.