How many Mercedes-Benz 300D are left in New Zealand?
Rare 1 in 93,497 on the road Built 1970-1992 Sold new in New Zealand
Updated from the NZTA Motor Vehicle Register, counted as at 31 August 2026. Recounted every month.
In 1974 the 300D put a five-cylinder diesel into a production car for the first time, giving the Stroke Eight saloon enough power to keep up with traffic. The engine carried on in the W123, where it earned a reputation for covering enormous distances, and the badge then moved to a new six-cylinder diesel in the W124.
Still on the road, by model year
The most are from 1978: 8 still registered. Every year is listed under the chart.
Every model year
| Model year | Still registered |
|---|---|
| 1970 | 1 |
| 1972 | 1 |
| 1976 | 1 |
| 1977 | 6 |
| 1978 | 8 |
| 1979 | 7 |
| 1980 | 5 |
| 1981 | 1 |
| 1982 | 1 |
| 1983 | 1 |
| 1984 | 2 |
| 1985 | 1 |
| 1986 | 4 |
| 1988 | 1 |
| 1989 | 3 |
| 1990 | 2 |
| 1991 | 1 |
| 1992 | 3 |
What Rare means
Spotto grades every car by how many are still registered in New Zealand. With 50 still registered, the Mercedes-Benz 300D is Rare: the grade for cars with 25 to 174 left.
By how many are left it ranks 56th of the 102 Mercedes-Benz models and equal 1,313th 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.