Lotus Esprit (1987)
1987 Lotus Esprit
CarHunch analysed 139 real MOT records for the 1987 Lotus Esprit. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1987 Lotus Esprit falls short of the UK average with a 73.4% pass rate against the national 80%, meaning roughly one in four fail their MOT on first attempt—a clear signal that these cars demand serious mechanical attention. The 15.1% rate of dangerous defects sits below the danger threshold but remains a meaningful concern for a 37-year-old sports car, so buyer inspection by a specialist is non-negotiable.
These Esprits show relatively modest mileage (median 48,569 miles suggests careful ownership), yet average 1.79 failures and 5.8 advisories per test, pointing to wear across multiple systems rather than one dominant weakness. Before committing to purchase, have a pre-buy inspection by someone familiar with Lotus chassis and 1980s fuel injection systems—the advisory count suggests maintenance history matters enormously.
What to check before buying a 1987 Lotus Esprit
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 Esprit
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Mileage Distribution
Most 1987 Lotus Esprit 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 Esprit vehicles fall between 27,223 and 64,427 miles.
1987 Lotus Esprit — Still on the Road
42 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 78% 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 Esprit
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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30%
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive
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28.7%
Oil leak
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28.5%
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
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26.2%
Oil leak, but not excessive
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17.8%
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid
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17.6%
Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded
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16.1%
Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel
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15.6%
Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1987. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Lotus Esprit?
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