How many Bristol 403s are left in New Zealand?
Unicorn 1 in 1,168,718 on the road Built 1953-1954 British
Updated from the NZTA Motor Vehicle Register, counted as at 31 August 2026. Recounted every month.
Outwardly almost the same as the 401 it replaced in 1953, but improved where it counted: more power from the 2-litre six, better brakes and a front anti-roll bar. Many regard it as the best of the early BMW-derived Bristols. It was built for only about two years.
Still on the road, by model year
3 from 1953 and 1 from 1954.
What Unicorn means
Spotto grades every car by how many are still registered in New Zealand. With 4 still registered, the Bristol 403 is Unicorn: the grade for cars with fewer than 5 left.
By how many are left it ranks 2nd of the 8 Bristol 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.