How many Ford Orions are left in New Zealand?
Unicorn 1 in 2,337,436 on the road Built 1985-1988 British
Updated from the NZTA Motor Vehicle Register, counted as at 31 August 2026. Recounted every month.
An Escort with a boot. Ford launched the Orion in 1983 as a four-door saloon version of its front-wheel-drive hatchback, pitched a little upmarket for buyers who missed the Cortina. In 1993 the name was dropped and the car simply became the Escort saloon.
Still on the road, by model year
1 from 1985 and 1 from 1988.
What Unicorn means
Spotto grades every car by how many are still registered in New Zealand. With 2 still registered, the Ford Orion is Unicorn: the grade for cars with fewer than 5 left.
By how many are left it ranks equal 114th of the 126 Ford models and equal 2,524th 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.