Official DVLA Record

1971 Ford Escort 1.6L Petrol · FMW 457J

FMW 457J

1971 Ford Escort (1.6L, petrol). First registered 11/05/1971. MOT status: Expired.

Make & Model
FORD ESCORT
Year / Origin
1971 · Nottingham
Safety Recall
Unknown
MOT Status
Valid until 05/03/2026
Road Tax
—
Recorded Mileage
—
ULEZ Compliance
Check Required (Pre-Euro 4 Petrol)
Fuel & Engine
Petrol · 1.6L
Reliability Guide
Common Faults
MOT Status
Expired
Valid until 05/03/2026
Tax Status
Check Tax
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Fuel Type
Petrol
Year
1971
Engine
1600cc
Mechanical Assessment

AI-generated interpretation of this vehicle’s MOT record — not an official statement and not a substitute for an independent inspection.

The 1971 Ford Escort presents a currently roadworthy status following a clean pass at the 25 February 2025 test with no defects recorded. The maintenance trend appears stable across the two most recent annual examinations, with the February 2025 and 6 March 2024 tests both returning passes and no advisories. This indicates the vehicle held a sound mechanical condition through the latest recorded checks. Mileage data is entirely absent from the supplied record, so no comparison of accumulated distance against the vehicle's fifty-five years of age is possible. The three entries between February 2024 and February 2025 show no odometer readings, leaving the buyer unable to judge usage intensity or verify consistency of care through distance travelled. The sparse history offers no evidence of rapid accumulation or neglected gaps in coverage beyond the single failure event. The 28 February 2024 test produced a fail with no defects formally recorded, a pattern consistent with administrative or documentation issues rather than flagged mechanical fault. The subsequent pass eight days later with no advisories suggests the matter was resolved without component replacement. No recurring suspension, braking, exhaust, or corrosion problems appear across the timeline. A buyer should still commission an in-person inspection of structural integrity given the vehicle's 1971 build, focusing on chassis rails, floor pans, and suspension mounting points for age-related corrosion. The clean MOT record does not exempt a fifty-five-year-old Escort from hidden perishables such as degraded rubber bushes, tired brake hoses, or worn steering joints that a visual test may not capture. Verify the February 2024 failure cause with the test station before purchase.

FMW 457J Key Findings

  • 3 MOT tests recorded
  • Latest MOT passed on 26/02/2025
  • 1 historical MOT failure
  • No defects recorded at the latest MOT

Derived directly from the recorded DVSA and DVLA data shown on this page.

MOT Roadworthiness Analysis
45
/ 100 · Below Average
DVSA Test Records Evaluated

MOT Roadworthiness: Below Average

This rating reflects historical MOT pass rates and recurring advisory wear patterns from official DVSA test logs. Note that roadworthiness does not verify outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen records.

✗ MOT Expired or Failed
! Tax Status Unknown
! Average MOT pass rate (67%)
! Older vehicle
Experian Provenance Check

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Verified Experian Data

Full History Report

Official provenance and safety check for FMW457J

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Stolen
EXPERIAN
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Finance
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Write-off
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Salvage
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Imported
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Exported
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Scrapped
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Destruction
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V5C Logbook
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Technical Specifications

May be subject to ULEZ charges

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FMW 457J MOT History

Vehicle record last updated: 15 Apr 2026, 17:56
MOT Analysis

Interpretation generated from the recorded test data above — not an official DVSA statement and not a substitute for an independent inspection.

3 MOT tests are recorded for this 1971 Ford Escort (FMW 457J) between February 2024 and February 2025.

The record contains 2 passes and 1 failure.

The most recent test on 26 February 2025 was a pass, although the earlier record includes 1 failure that buyers may want to investigate.

PASS
FAIL
ADVISORY