How many Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3 are left in New Zealand?
Unicorn 1 in 1,168,718 on the road Built 1969-1972 Sold new in New Zealand
Updated from the NZTA Motor Vehicle Register, counted as at 31 August 2026. Recounted every month.
Engineer Erich Waxenberger put the 6.3-litre V8 from the huge 600 limousine into the S-Class body, and Mercedes put the result on sale in 1968. It was the fastest four-door of its day and looked almost the same as a six-cylinder car. A race version built by the young AMG firm finished second in the 1971 Spa 24 Hours, which made AMG's name.
Still on the road, by model year
2 from 1969 and 2 from 1972.
What Unicorn means
Spotto grades every car by how many are still registered in New Zealand. With 4 still registered, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3 is Unicorn: the grade for cars with fewer than 5 left.
By how many are left it ranks 98th of the 102 Mercedes-Benz models and equal 2,380th 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.