How many Riley Merlins are left in New Zealand?
Super rare 1 in 934,974 on the road Built 1936 Sold new in New Zealand
Updated from the NZTA Motor Vehicle Register, counted as at 31 August 2026. Recounted every month.
An all-steel four-door saloon that Riley introduced in the mid-1930s as a cheaper alternative to its coachbuilt bodies. It was sold on the Nine and 1.5 litre chassis, both with Riley's twin-camshaft engines. The name follows the firm's habit of calling its saloons after birds of prey.
Still on the road, by model year
5 from 1936.
What Super rare means
Spotto grades every car by how many are still registered in New Zealand. With 5 still registered, the Riley Merlin is Super rare: the grade for cars with 5 to 24 left.
By how many are left it ranks equal 9th of the 12 Riley models and equal 2,281st 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.