How many Mercedes-Benz 280TE are left in New Zealand?
Super rare 1 in 467,487 on the road Built 1979-1985 European
Updated from the NZTA Motor Vehicle Register, counted as at 31 August 2026. Recounted every month.
Top of the W123 estate range: the twin-cam, fuel-injected 2.8-litre six in the first wagon Mercedes built itself. It was one of the quickest load carriers of its time, with self-levelling rear suspension as standard and, as an option, a rear-facing bench that folded out of the boot floor to seat two more children.
Still on the road, by model year
The most are from 1985: 3 still registered. Every year is listed under the chart.
Every model year
| Model year | Still registered |
|---|---|
| 1979 | 1 |
| 1980 | 1 |
| 1981 | 1 |
| 1982 | 2 |
| 1983 | 1 |
| 1984 | 1 |
| 1985 | 3 |
What Super rare means
Spotto grades every car by how many are still registered in New Zealand. With 10 still registered, the Mercedes-Benz 280TE is Super rare: the grade for cars with 5 to 24 left.
By how many are left it ranks equal 85th of the 102 Mercedes-Benz models and equal 1,977th 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.