How many Mercedes-Benz 380SEL are left in New Zealand?
Super rare 1 in 389,573 on the road Built 1981-1985 Sold new in New Zealand
Updated from the NZTA Motor Vehicle Register, counted as at 31 August 2026. Recounted every month.
Long-wheelbase W126 S-Class with the 3.8-litre alloy V8, sold in the first half of the 1980s. The W126 was shaped in the wind tunnel under Bruno Sacco, did away with chrome bumpers in favour of plastic ones, and in 1981 was among the first cars offered with a driver's airbag. It was the limousine of choice for a decade.
Still on the road, by model year
The most are from 1985: 6 still registered. Every year is listed under the chart.
Every model year
| Model year | Still registered |
|---|---|
| 1981 | 2 |
| 1982 | 3 |
| 1984 | 1 |
| 1985 | 6 |
What Super rare means
Spotto grades every car by how many are still registered in New Zealand. With 12 still registered, the Mercedes-Benz 380SEL is Super rare: the grade for cars with 5 to 24 left.
By how many are left it ranks equal 81st of the 102 Mercedes-Benz models and equal 1,896th 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.