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Built here

New Zealand assembled its own cars until 1998.

Spotto keeps a separate collection for the cars built here, sorted by the plant that built them. Nothing will ever be added to it, and every year there are fewer of them left to find.

models to find
16
plants, north to south
12
still registered, all told
500+
local assembly ends
1998

How many of each are left, car by car

  1. Auckland 5 plants

    Motor Holdings, Otahuhu

    Ōtāhuhu, Auckland

    • Trekkaassembled 1966–1973 Rare

    Anziel Ltd, Otahuhu

    Ōtāhuhu, Auckland

    • Anziel Novaassembled 1967–1968 Unicorn

    Mazda NZ, Otahuhu

    Ōtāhuhu, Auckland

    • Mazda 323 (FA/BD)assembled 1977–1985 Rare

    Motor Holdings, Otahuhu / Nissan, Mt Roskill

    Ōtāhuhu and Mt Roskill, Auckland

    • Datsun Sunny 120Y (B210)assembled 1973–1982 Rare

    NZ Motor Corporation, Panmure

    Panmure, Auckland

    • Morris Marinaassembled 1972–1980 Super rare

  2. Wellington region 5 plants

    Ford NZ, Seaview

    Seaview, Lower Hutt

    • Ford Escort (Mk1/Mk2)assembled 1968–1980 Rare
    • Ford Cortina (Mk3/Mk4)assembled 1970–1982 Rare

    General Motors NZ, Trentham

    Trentham, Upper Hutt

    • Holden Kingswood (HQ-HZ)assembled 1971–1980 Rare
    • Vauxhall Viva (HB/HC)assembled 1967–1979 Rare
    • Vauxhall Chevetteassembled 1976–1984 Rare

    Todd Motors, Petone

    Petone, Lower Hutt

    • Chrysler Valiant (VH/VJ)assembled 1971–1976 Rare
    • Hillman Hunterassembled 1967–1979 Rare

    Todd Motors, Petone / Porirua

    Petone and Porirua, Wellington

    • Hillman Avengerassembled 1971–1981 Rare

    Todd Motors / Mitsubishi, Porirua

    Porirua, Wellington

    • Mitsubishi Sigmaassembled 1977–1987 Rare

  3. Nelson 1 plant

    NZ Motor Corporation, Nelson

    Nelson

    • Honda Civic (AH/AG)assembled 1984–1991 Rare

      Six left, but Rare rather than Super rare: the two rarest grades are kept for cars whose whole nameplate is rare, and there are plenty of Civics.

  4. Christchurch 1 plant

    Steel Motor Assemblies, Christchurch

    Christchurch

    • Toyota Corona (T130/T140)assembled 1978–1987 Rare

Local assembly ended in 1998. This collection can only get harder.

So, how rare is yours?

Your own car is in there somewhere, probably down to the badge. It might not be the news you were hoping for.

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