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WPW 171S

1978 Triumph Spitfire

Red Petrol 1493cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires8 Oct 2026
Tests20 (16 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate80%

Mileage

82,023 mi
Last recorded82,023 miles
Recorded on9 Oct 2025
Typical for 1978 Triumph Spitfire62,304 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

RegistrationWPW 171S
MakeTriumph
ModelSpitfire
Year1978
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,493cc

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

16 pass 4 fail
Pass 9 Oct 2025 82,023 miles

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

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

Offside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b))

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

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

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

Rear Fluid leak, but not excessive Diff (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 25 Sep 2024 82,007 miles

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing All tyres (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge Rear tyres (5.2.3 (e))

Fail 25 Sep 2024 82,007 miles

Offside Rear Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing All tyres (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge Rear tyres (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 26 Sep 2023 81,915 miles
Pass 31 Oct 2022 81,806 miles
Pass 26 Oct 2021 81,751 miles

Fuel cap sealing washer deteriorated

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Fail 20 Oct 2021 81,751 miles

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Fuel cap sealing washer deteriorated

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 29 Sep 2020 81,582 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Fail 23 Sep 2020 81,582 miles

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive (8.2.1.2 (b))

Offside Rear Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

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

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

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

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 20 Feb 2019 81,533 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Fail 8 Feb 2019 81,533 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (8.2.1.2 (b))

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive (8.2.1.2 (b))

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

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

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

Nearside Seat belt webbing significantly weakened (7.1.2 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 10 Aug 2016 81,370 miles
Pass 3 Aug 2015 81,276 miles
Pass 31 Oct 2013 81,140 miles
Pass 24 Jul 2012 81,101 miles
Pass 1 Jul 2010 80,869 miles
Pass 6 Jul 2009 80,668 miles
Pass 4 Jun 2008 80,082 miles
Pass 4 Jul 2007 79,345 miles
Pass 13 Jun 2006 77,915 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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WPW 171S is a 1978 Triumph Spitfire in Red with a 1,493cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 20 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 80%.

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 WPW 171S, 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 WPW 171S?

You can check the full history of WPW 171S by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was WPW 171S registered?

WPW 171S is a 1978 Triumph Spitfire, first registered on 1 January 1978.

Is WPW 171S safe to buy?

The MOT history for WPW 171S shows 20 tests with a 80% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does WPW 171S 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 WPW 171S. 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.