Lotus Eclat (1987)
1987 Lotus Eclat
CarHunch analysed 110 real MOT records for the 1987 Lotus Eclat. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1987 Lotus Eclat has a first-time MOT pass rate of just 46.4%, well below the UK average of 80%, which signals serious reliability concerns for a car now 37 years old. With a dangerous defect rate of 10.9%, these vehicles do pose genuine safety risks—nearly 1 in 10 will have experienced a structural or brake failure.
The median mileage of 58,453 is reasonable for the age, yet the average 1.09 failures per vehicle and 5.9 advisories per test suggest widespread wear across multiple systems. Before committing to one, budget for immediate professional inspection of braking, suspension, and rust damage, as this model demands specialist knowledge and deep pockets to keep roadworthy.
What to check before buying a 1987 Lotus Eclat
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Lotus Eclat
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Mileage Distribution
Most 1987 Lotus Eclat vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 1987 Lotus Eclat vehicles fall between 32,986 and 79,830 miles.
1987 Lotus Eclat — Still on the Road
20 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 71% 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.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1987 Lotus Eclat
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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38%
Oil leak
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31.2%
Oil leak, but not excessive
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28.4%
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive
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17.8%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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14.9%
Horn not working
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14.9%
Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded
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14.4%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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13.9%
Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1987. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Lotus Eclat?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.