How many Lotus Europas are left in New Zealand?
Rare 1 in 173,143 on the road Built 1968-2009 Sold new in New Zealand
Updated from the NZTA Motor Vehicle Register, counted as at 31 August 2026. Recounted every month.
One of the first affordable mid-engined road cars, launched in 1966 with a Renault engine behind the seats and a very low fibreglass body whose high rear flanks earned it the nickname breadvan. Later ones got the Lotus twin-cam engine. The name came back in 2006 on a touring car based on the Elise.
Still on the road, by model year
The most are from 1969: 5 still registered. Every year is listed under the chart.
Every model year
| Model year | Still registered |
|---|---|
| 1968 | 1 |
| 1969 | 5 |
| 1970 | 5 |
| 1971 | 3 |
| 1972 | 1 |
| 1973 | 2 |
| 1974 | 5 |
| 1975 | 1 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2009 | 1 |
What Rare means
Spotto grades every car by how many are still registered in New Zealand. With 27 still registered, the Lotus Europa is Rare: the grade for cars with 25 to 174 left.
By how many are left it ranks 7th of the 15 Lotus models and equal 1,559th 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.