How many Rover 3500s are left in New Zealand?
Scarce 1 in 6,765 on the road Built 1968-1987 Sold new in New Zealand
Updated from the NZTA Motor Vehicle Register, counted as at 31 August 2026. Recounted every month.
Two generations of V8 Rover. From 1968 the P6 saloon was sold as the 3500 with the light aluminium V8 that Rover had bought from Buick, and the manual 3500S is the one enthusiasts want. In 1976 the name passed to the SD1, a sleek five-door hatchback that was European Car of the Year in 1977.
Still on the road, by model year
The most are from 1973: 149 still registered. Every year is listed under the chart.
Every model year
| Model year | Still registered |
|---|---|
| 1968 | 5 |
| 1969 | 21 |
| 1970 | 67 |
| 1971 | 43 |
| 1972 | 113 |
| 1973 | 149 |
| 1974 | 85 |
| 1975 | 49 |
| 1976 | 3 |
| 1977 | 1 |
| 1978 | 3 |
| 1979 | 19 |
| 1980 | 3 |
| 1981 | 13 |
| 1982 | 15 |
| 1983 | 24 |
| 1984 | 33 |
| 1985 | 26 |
| 1986 | 16 |
| 1987 | 3 |
By badge
The versions the register records, most numerous first.
| Which one | Built | Left | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vanden Plas | 30 | Rare | |
| V8 | 16 | Rare | |
| Vitesse | 5 | Rare |
What Scarce means
Spotto grades every car by how many are still registered in New Zealand. With 691 still registered, the Rover 3500 is Scarce: the grade for cars with 175 to 1,199 left.
By how many are left it ranks 1st of the 30 Rover models and 529th 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.