How many BMW Z1s are left in New Zealand?
Unicorn 1 in 1,168,718 on the road Built 1989-1990 European
Updated from the NZTA Motor Vehicle Register, counted as at 31 August 2026. Recounted every month.
A small two-seat roadster built from 1989 to 1991, remembered for doors that drop down into the sills at the press of a button. The plastic body panels could be unbolted, the engine came from the 325i, and about 8,000 were made, all of them left-hand drive.
Still on the road, by model year
3 from 1989 and 1 from 1990.
What Unicorn means
Spotto grades every car by how many are still registered in New Zealand. With 4 still registered, the BMW Z1 is Unicorn: the grade for cars with fewer than 5 left.
By how many are left it ranks equal 49th of the 53 BMW models and equal 2,380th of all 2,903 cars in Spotto's catalogue.
The six grades: Common, 8,000 or more · Uncommon, 1,200 to 7,999 · Scarce, 175 to 1,199 · Rare, 25 to 174 · Super rare, 5 to 24 · Unicorn, fewer than 5.
Seen one?
Spotto grades every car on New Zealand roads by how many are still registered, down to the generation and the badge. Log the ones you spot, build a collection, and see who else has found one.