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UEP 281S

1978 Triumph Spitfire

Red Petrol 1493cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires1 Sep 2026
Tests13 (11 pass, 2 fail)
Pass rate84.6%

Mileage

87,697 mi
Last recorded87,697 miles
Recorded on2 Sep 2025
Typical for 1978 Triumph Spitfire62,304 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationUEP 281S
MakeTriumph
ModelSpitfire
Year1978
ColourRed
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

11 pass 2 fail
Pass 2 Sep 2025 87,697 miles
Pass 22 Mar 2023 83,204 miles
Pass 19 Jun 2021 80,867 miles
Pass 29 Aug 2019 80,181 miles
Pass 2 Dec 2017 79,771 miles
Pass 29 Oct 2016 75,881 miles

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

Offside Front Upper Ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Fail 29 Oct 2016 75,881 miles

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

Offside Front Upper Ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Offside Rear Braking system leaking brake pipe to junction (3.6.A.1)

Pass 14 Mar 2015 70,320 miles
Pass 19 Oct 2013 63,953 miles
Pass 3 Sep 2012 62,587 miles

Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

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

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

rear wing corroded

slight bind on nearside front wheel

some brake pipes greased preventing full insection

Pass 25 May 2011 62,462 miles

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

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

Pass 29 Sep 2009 62,227 miles

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

front discs slightly warped

some play in both trunnions

Fail 17 Sep 2009 62,222 miles

Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Offside Front Front suspension has excessive movement at a wishbone pin or bush (2.5.A.1c)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.1a)

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

front discs slightly warped

some play in both trunnions

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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UEP 281S is a 1978 Triumph Spitfire in Red with a 1,493cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 13 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 84.6%.

Across all 1978 Triumph Spitfire models, the average MOT pass rate is 70.6% with a typical mileage of 62,304 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 UEP 281S, 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 48 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 UEP 281S?

You can check the full history of UEP 281S by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was UEP 281S registered?

UEP 281S is a 1978 Triumph Spitfire, first registered on 23 May 1978.

Is UEP 281S safe to buy?

The MOT history for UEP 281S shows 13 tests with a 84.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does UEP 281S 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 UEP 281S. 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.