How many Lotus Sevens are left in New Zealand?
Rare 1 in 51,372 on the road Built 1958-2003 Sold new in New Zealand
Updated from the NZTA Motor Vehicle Register, counted as at 31 August 2026. Recounted every month.
Colin Chapman's idea of the simplest possible sports car: a light tubular frame, cycle wings, two seats and nothing else. Launched in 1957 and often sold as a kit, it was built by Lotus until 1973, when the rights passed to Caterham, which still makes it. It is probably the most copied car in the world.
Still on the road, by model year
The most are from 1978: 11 still registered. Every year is listed under the chart.
Every model year
| Model year | Still registered |
|---|---|
| 1958 | 1 |
| 1959 | 1 |
| 1960 | 1 |
| 1961 | 2 |
| 1962 | 1 |
| 1965 | 2 |
| 1966 | 1 |
| 1967 | 1 |
| 1968 | 3 |
| 1969 | 4 |
| 1971 | 1 |
| 1972 | 1 |
| 1973 | 4 |
| 1974 | 7 |
| 1975 | 5 |
| 1976 | 3 |
| 1977 | 7 |
| 1978 | 11 |
| 1979 | 3 |
| 1980 | 2 |
| 1984 | 1 |
| 1985 | 1 |
| 1986 | 1 |
| 1987 | 3 |
| 1988 | 2 |
| 1989 | 7 |
| 1990 | 5 |
| 1992 | 1 |
| 1994 | 1 |
| 1997 | 2 |
| 1998 | 1 |
| 1999 | 2 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 2 |
What Rare means
Spotto grades every car by how many are still registered in New Zealand. With 91 still registered, the Lotus Seven is Rare: the grade for cars with 25 to 174 left.
By how many are left it ranks 2nd of the 15 Lotus models and equal 1,085th 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.