How many Buick Straight 8s are left in New Zealand?
Unicorn 1 in 4,674,872 on the road Built 1934 Sold new in New Zealand
Updated from the NZTA Motor Vehicle Register, counted as at 31 August 2026. Recounted every month.
Less a model than a description: every Buick built from 1931 until the V8 arrived in 1953 had an overhead-valve straight-eight engine. In 1934 that meant anything from the new, smaller Series 40 up to the long-wheelbase Series 90 limousines.
Still on the road, by model year
1 from 1934.
What Unicorn means
Spotto grades every car by how many are still registered in New Zealand. With 1 still registered, the Buick Straight 8 is Unicorn: the grade for cars with fewer than 5 left.
By how many are left it ranks equal 23rd of the 24 Buick models and equal 2,668th 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.