Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1987 Lotus Esprit?

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 1987 Lotus Esprit?

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 1987 Lotus Esprit?

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 1987 Lotus Esprit reliable?

Based on MOT data from 139 vehicles, the 1987 Lotus Esprit has a first-time MOT pass rate of 83.7%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1987 Lotus Esprit?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1987 Lotus Esprit are: Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (41.3% of vehicles), Oil leak (28.7% of vehicles), Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (28.5% 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 1987 Lotus Esprit?

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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Lotus Esprit (1987)

139 real MOT outcomes analysed • 83.7% first-time pass rate

1987 Lotus Esprit

CarHunch analysed 139 real MOT records for the 1987 Lotus Esprit. 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 Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

We have limited data for the 1987 Lotus Esprit — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 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

83.7%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

15.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.79

Over 9.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

49k

Middle half: 27k–64k

For context

These stats describe 139 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.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 139 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Exhaust & emissions 41.3%

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive

Other issues 28.7%

Oil leak · Oil leak, but not excessive · Horn not working

Brake wear 28.5%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded · Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · …

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

Wipers & washers 17.8%

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid

Suspension & steering 16.1%

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel · Nearside Rear coil spring corroded · Offside Rear coil spring corroded

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Lighting 14.9%

Nearside Headlamp aim too high · Offside Headlamp aim too high

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

Tyre wear 12.9%

Nearside Rear 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.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1987.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 139 Lotus Esprit cars.

Before you buy a 1987 Lotus Esprit

Based on MOT data from 139 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 15.1% 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

Mileage Distribution

Most 1987 Lotus Esprit 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.

48,569

typical

27,223

low mileage

64,427

high mileage

Half of all 1987 Lotus Esprit vehicles fall between 27,223 and 64,427 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 27,223 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.

✓ 27,223–64,427 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1987 Lotus Esprits sit.

⚠ Over 86,976 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1987 Lotus Esprit — Still on the Road

Most 1987 Lotus Esprits are still being driven.

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.
* 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

9.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.79

Avg failures per vehicle

5.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Lotus Esprit: All Esprit years → Which year to buy? →

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1988 1989 1990 1998

Or browse all models: Lotus →

Compare with another model

See how the 1987 Lotus Esprit stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?