1998 Caterham Seven 1.6L Petrol · R789 AGC

The most recent MOT on 2025-04-17 shows the vehicle passed with no defects recorded at 36,062 miles. This is the first clean MOT in over five years, suggesting potential improvements in maintenance or repairs since the 2017 issues. However, the 2017 MOT history reveals significant corrosion risks, including rear vehicle structure corrosion (6.1.B.2) and corroded rear coil springs (2.4.C.1b), alongside a parking brake efficiency failure (3.7.C.1b). These issues were repeated in a separate 2017 MOT entry on the same date, indicating unresolved or recurring problems. The trend from 2016 to 2022 shows stable performance, with no defects recorded in the 2016 and 2022 MOTs. However, the 2017 failures and subsequent corrosion reports highlight a critical risk pattern: exposure to moisture or poor storage conditions may have caused structural and suspension component degradation. While the 2025 MOT shows no defects, it is unclear whether the corrosion issues were fully addressed or if they were misrecorded. The lack of follow-up reports for these specific defects since 2017 is notable but does not confirm resolution. The vehicle’s low mileage of 36,062 miles over 28 years equates to approximately 1,288 miles per year, which is significantly below average for its age. This could indicate light use, infrequent driving, or prolonged periods of inactivity, both of which increase the risk of corrosion, fluid degradation, and component stiffness.