How many Lotus Esprits are left in New Zealand?
Rare 1 in 74,204 on the road Built 1976-2001 British
Updated from the NZTA Motor Vehicle Register, counted as at 31 August 2026. Recounted every month.
A mid-engined wedge styled by Giugiaro, launched in 1976 and built in one form or another until 2004. It became famous as the James Bond car that turned into a submarine in The Spy Who Loved Me. Turbocharging arrived in 1980, a rounder body in 1987 and a twin-turbo V8 in 1996.
Still on the road, by model year
The most are from 2000: 10 still registered. Every year is listed under the chart.
Every model year
| Model year | Still registered |
|---|---|
| 1976 | 2 |
| 1977 | 2 |
| 1978 | 3 |
| 1979 | 1 |
| 1980 | 1 |
| 1981 | 2 |
| 1982 | 3 |
| 1983 | 2 |
| 1984 | 3 |
| 1985 | 3 |
| 1986 | 2 |
| 1987 | 2 |
| 1988 | 5 |
| 1989 | 7 |
| 1990 | 3 |
| 1991 | 3 |
| 1992 | 1 |
| 1993 | 1 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 1997 | 2 |
| 1998 | 1 |
| 1999 | 2 |
| 2000 | 10 |
| 2001 | 1 |
By badge
The versions the register records, most numerous first.
| Which one | Built | Left | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| V8 GT | 9 | Rare | |
| V8 | 5 | Rare |
What Rare means
Spotto grades every car by how many are still registered in New Zealand. With 63 still registered, the Lotus Esprit is Rare: the grade for cars with 25 to 174 left.
By how many are left it ranks 4th of the 15 Lotus models and equal 1,223rd 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.