Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1991 Ferrari Testarossa?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 1991 Ferrari Testarossa?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 1991 Ferrari Testarossa?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 1991 Ferrari Testarossa reliable?

Based on MOT data from 104 vehicles, the 1991 Ferrari Testarossa has a first-time MOT pass rate of 88.8%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1991 Ferrari Testarossa?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1991 Ferrari Testarossa are: Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (20.4% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (19.9% of vehicles), Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components (14.6% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1991 Ferrari Testarossa?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Ferrari Testarossa (1991)

104 real MOT outcomes analysed • 88.8% first-time pass rate

1991 Ferrari Testarossa

CarHunch analysed 104 real MOT records for the 1991 Ferrari Testarossa. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

We have limited data for the 1991 Ferrari Testarossa — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Around 1 in 20 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

88.8%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

7.7%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

Over 9.4 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

23k

Middle half: 10k–32k

For context

These stats describe 104 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

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What tends to go wrong

Across 104 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 20.4%

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Other issues 14.6%

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Oil leak · Horn not working

Exhaust & emissions 11.2%

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive · Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive

Brake wear 5.3%

Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded · Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded · Nearside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Lighting 4.4%

Rear fog lamp not working · Nearside Headlamp aim too low

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Wipers & washers 3.4%

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1991.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 104 Ferrari Testarossa cars.

Before you buy a 1991 Ferrari Testarossa

Based on MOT data from 104 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 7.7% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (99%)	103	88.7%	1.01

Mileage Distribution

Most 1991 Ferrari Testarossa vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

22,973

typical

9,624

low mileage

32,415

high mileage

Half of all 1991 Ferrari Testarossa vehicles fall between 9,624 and 32,415 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 9,624 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 9,624–32,415 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1991 Ferrari Testarossas sit.

⚠ Over 43,760 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1991 Ferrari Testarossa — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 64% of 1991 Ferrari Testarossas are still active.

32 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 64% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

9.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

Avg failures per vehicle

2.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

Compare with another model

See how the 1991 Ferrari Testarossa stacks up against a rival.

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