2004 Caterham Seven 1.8L Petrol · FP04 HZN

Most recent MOT (2023‑01‑06) – The car passed the test at 29,517 mi, but the examiner flagged both rear tyres as being “worn close to the legal limit” with edge‑wear. No other faults were recorded. Recurring mechanical pattern – The only repeat‑type issue is tyre wear. In 2020 the MOT noted a defective rear fog‑lamp lens (non‑critical) and severe deterioration of the front upper suspension arm ball‑joint dust covers, but those items were not mentioned again in later tests. The 2019 failure was limited to lighting (off‑side stop lamp and rear fog lamp) and was corrected before the next test. Trend analysis – Across five MOTs (two in 2019, then 2020, 2021, 2023) the vehicle has mostly cleared without major safety defects. The only ongoing concern is the tyre condition, which has now been highlighted twice. Apart from the one‑off lighting failure in 2019, there is no evidence of a worsening mechanical trend; the car appears to be stable, with the exception of consumable wear on the tyres. Mileage versus age – At roughly 1,340 mi per year, the Seven has very low mileage for a 22‑year‑old car. This could indicate light, occasional use or long periods of storage.