How many DeSoto Adventurers are left in New Zealand?
Super rare 1 in 779,145 on the road Built 1957-1961 American
Updated from the NZTA Motor Vehicle Register, counted as at 31 August 2026. Recounted every month.
DeSoto's performance flagship, introduced in 1956 as a limited-run hardtop with a Hemi V8 and gold-accented trim. Through the high-finned Forward Look years it remained a low-volume halo car, then in 1960 it became the name of the whole top line. DeSoto itself was closed down soon after.
Still on the road, by model year
The most are from 1960: 4 still registered. Every year is listed under the chart.
Every model year
| Model year | Still registered |
|---|---|
| 1957 | 1 |
| 1960 | 4 |
| 1961 | 1 |
What Super rare means
Spotto grades every car by how many are still registered in New Zealand. With 6 still registered, the DeSoto Adventurer is Super rare: the grade for cars with 5 to 24 left.
By how many are left it ranks equal 6th of the 11 DeSoto models and equal 2,199th 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.