How many Nissan Datsun 1200s are left in New Zealand?
Unicorn 1 in 2,337,436 on the road Built 1972-1974 Sold new in New Zealand
Updated from the NZTA Motor Vehicle Register, counted as at 31 August 2026. Recounted every month.
The second-generation Sunny, sold abroad as the Datsun 1200 from 1970. It was a light, simple rear-wheel-drive saloon, coupe and wagon with a willing 1.2 litre engine, and that mix made it a favourite for club racing and later for engine swaps. The ute version stayed in production in Japan into the 1990s.
Still on the road, by model year
1 from 1972 and 1 from 1974.
What Unicorn means
Spotto grades every car by how many are still registered in New Zealand. With 2 still registered, the Nissan Datsun 1200 is Unicorn: the grade for cars with fewer than 5 left.
By how many are left it ranks equal 95th of the 102 Nissan models and equal 2,524th 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.